p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;"The clock is already showing five pasts thirty in the late afternoon. The rain has been falling down on the outside for several hours, making the scenery of Tokyo City on the outside of the windows all blurry. Ryouta still sitting in his office room with a tired look on his face. There's a half empty glass of coffee on his table alongside the messy papers and bundles scattered around on his computer. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;"His hands typing non-stops on the keyboard while his pair of hazel eyes are focusing on the reports that he has to finish before submitting it to the board of directors which the deadline is 45 minutes from now. Ryouta lets out a long breath and taking another quick break to sip his black coffee. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;"The air in his office room is getting colder than before because of the combination of the AC and the weather outside, but it's not bothering him much since his mind on full focus on the work in front of him. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;"Seconds later, a telephone on his table is ringing. He stops his work and see it's the incoming call from his superior on board of director. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;""Suzui here" he said with a low baritone voice. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;""Ah, Suzui, I just want to tell you that there's a change in the plan for our client from Hokkaido and they want to arrange another meeting next week in Sapporo to discuss it furtherly. I'm dispatching you and Sugihara," said his boss. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;""No problem, boss. I'll take care of it" said Suzui. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;""Thank you, Suzui and don't forget to send the monthly report," said his boss. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;""I will" said Ryouta before he hangs up the call and returns to his unfinished work. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;"After finishing his all of his works and responsibilities for today, Ryouta stretched his stiff body for a couple of minutes. He looks at his watch and look outside the window for a seconds before covering them with curtains. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;"He then gathers all of his belongings into his sling bag and grab his navy-blue blazer from the hanger before going out from his office room. After locking the door, he makes his way to the lift that will takes him back to the ground floor. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;"He was greeted by several of his co-workers along the way in which he responded them with friendly attitude and smile. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;"When he gets on the ground floor, two female receptionists are greeting him and says good work for today in which he responded with smile once again. Behind the receptionist table, there is large neon logo of the company where he works which saying "Lexicon Ltd." Which is one of the largest private security companies in Japan. He's been working there for three years and now he's one of the senior managers. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;"Ryouta then walks to the parking bay and press the button of the automatic car key to unlock his metallic white Hyundai Palisade which was parked near the corner of the parking bay area. He enters his car and put his bag and blazer on the passenger seat next to him before he closes the door and starts the engine. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;"He decides to hear some afternoon news to accompany his journey back to his abode. Ryouta then drives away from the parking bay area to the front guard post to taps out. After that, he enters the busy road of Minato District. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;"The rain has starting to stop and as he always expected every single day, he quickly enters a traffic jam on the usual traffic lights intersections. After, the rush hour is on the peak at this time of the day where students and workers are coming back home. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;"He lets out a long breath and checks his watch. It's already near 18:30 PM. He remembers that he needs to make several stops first before going home. The light has turn green and Ryouta continues to steps on the gas towards Shibuya, all the way to Ebisu region. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;"After driving for another 30 minutes, Ryouta stops his car in front of a small flower shop on the small suburban area. He steps out and walk inside when an old woman and a young girl greets him behind the counter with cheerful tone. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;""I'd like to buy a bouquet of white lily flowers," said Ryouta. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;""Sure thing, Honoka, please get Suzui-san's order" said the old woman to the younger woman. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;""Yes, grandma," said the girl. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;""So, it's time of the year again," said the old woman. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;""Yeah, pretty much. By the way, how you and Honoka doing?" asked Ryouta. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;""I'm good and Honoka will be graduating soon. She's now busy preparing for her university entrance exam" said the old woman with smile. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;""I see. Time sure flies by, huh?" said Ryouta with a smile. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;""It's sure is, Suzui-san," said the old woman. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;"The young girl then comes back with nicely wrapped bucket of lily flowers. Ryouta then takes his wallet and give the old lady the payment for his flowers. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;""Here you go, Suzui-san" said the old lady while handing him the flowers bouquet. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;""Thank you very much and oh, Honoka, your grandma just told me that you're preparing for university entrance exam," said Ryouta. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;""Yes, I 'am Uncle Suzui. I'm aiming for Tokyo University," said Honoka. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;""That's great ambition, and I hope you can achieve your goal," said Ryouta. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;""Thank you, Uncle Suzui" said Honoka with a smile. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;""Well, I have to go now. Thank you for the flowers" said Ryouta before leaving the shop./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;""Be careful on your way, Suzui-san" said the old lady which Ryouta responded by waving his right hand a little. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;"He's entering his car again and drives away from the shop to his next stop which located just on the outer side of Tokyo City. It took him around one hour and fifteen minutes cruising on the road before he's arriving in front of a large cemetery gate. He parks his car on the parking are near the area. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;"He then takes the flowers Boquete from the passenger seat and steps outside from his car. He locks the car and then walk into the cemetery area. The sky starts to get more darker as the night starts to embrace and the lamps on the cemetery already lighting up. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;"He walks for some minutes across the big cemetery area full of traditional Japanese grave stones before he finally stops in front one of them. Ryouta is sighs a little and look at the grave. The inscription on the grave says "Mikami Nomura", with Ryouta's name below as he was described as "loving husband". /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;""emMikami, today we're celebrating our wedding anniversary once again. How are you, sweetheart? Look, I got your favourite flowers/em," said Ryouta on his heart. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;"He then placing the lily flowers bouquet in front of the grave before continue to stare at it with sad expression. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;""emI know it's been the million times I said this, but everything doesn't feel the same anymore without you on my side. I always remembered the times we spent together and I cherished every second of it. I miss you so much, Mikami. I miss you so much that I hope that I can hug you tightly right now in my arms and hears your voice once again. There's a lot of things in my heart and mind that I want to say to you/em" said Ryouta with tears pouring down on his cheeks. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;""emI'm sorry to cry like this, Mikami. You must be hating it, to see me like this, but it can't be helped. But, don't worry about me, Mikami. I'm promise to be stronger than ever and continue to live the best of my life like you said, because I believe that you are always looking after me from wherever you are right now,/em" said Ryouta while wiping out the tears from his eyes and cheeks. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;"After spending another thirty minutes with his late dear wife, Ryouta decides that it's the time for him to say goodbye. He put on a small kiss to her grave before walking down back to the cemetery gate. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;"Ryouta then goes back into his car. He lets out another long breath before starts his car's engine and drives away from the cemetery complex. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;"While his eyes focusing on the traffic in front of him, his mind then starts to play the memories about his late wife. He and Mikami were married for five and half years before cervix cancer took her away. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;"Mikami was always a cheerful and bright person even in the worst of time. She's like the sunflower and her smile is always calming him. She's also a very optimistic person who have big dream and he still remembers that she wants to have a large farmland in the countryside, so that they can spend everyday away from the noisy city life. An idea that also echoes in him too. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;"But fate told the otherwise, as her illness is getting worse day by day, and on one night, after they poured everything on their heart and mind, Mikami lets out her last breath. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;"It was one of the most devastating moments in his life. He didn't cry in her funeral, but his heart is screaming of the pain of losing her and it's still going on until today. But, after all, his wife's memory still lives on him and will forever be. span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;"…../span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;"Ryouta is finally arriving at his home which located on Setagaya District. After putting his belongings on his bedroom on the second floor, Ryouta is preparing for small dinner meals for him. He decides to make his wife's favourite paella dish since today is their anniversary today. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;"And so, Ryouta puts on an apron and starts preparing the ingredients from the refrigerator. After that, he then starts cooking. It's not taking him long to finish and he decides to eat his meal while watching some evening TV programs. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;"So, he brings the plate and the plate of warm paella on the living room. He then goes back to the kitchen and grabs a full bottle of cold water from the refrigerator and brings it to the living room. He then takes the portion of paella to his plate. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;"After that, Ryouta turns on the TV and decides to watch a reality show program while enjoying his dinner. The paella tastes so good in his mouth. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;"He remembers that he ate this Spanish's pride dish for the first time on his first home date with Mikami back then. Mikami was a professional chef back then, and she's mastering many kinds of dishes. This Paella is one of many recipes that Mikami taught to him. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;"Upon finishing the dinner, Ryouta gathers all the dirty plates and wash them all together in the sink and after everything is settled, Ryouta then goes upstairs to his room to take a cold shower before relaxing himself after a long day at work. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;"After taking the showers and dressed in his comfy home outfit, he immediately lies on his king-sized bed. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;""Ah, so tired" he said. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;"He then fixes his position and his hazel eyes then look at the photo frames on the desk in front of the bed. One of them is the photo of him and Mikami on their wedding day, six years ago. He smiles at it and then look at the empty space of bed that used to be Mikami's. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;"Every night after a long day, Ryouta and Mikami will exchange their stories of the day and sometimes, they also having serious discussion. Sometimes, they will also just cuddle up or watch some movies together. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;"Ryouta feels his eyes are getting heavier. He looks at the clock on the wall which showing 22:45 PM. The night is getting late and he needs to go to work tomorrow. He's jumping off from his bed and turns off the lamp of his bedroom. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;"He goes back to the bed and stares at ceiling for a moment and whispers slowly. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;""Good night, sweetheart, everything will be alright" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;"And after that, he slowly falls asleep. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;"His hands typing non-stops on the keyboard while his pair of hazel eyes are focusing on the reports that he has to finish before submitting it to the board of directors which the deadline is 45 minutes from now. Ryouta lets out a long breath and taking another quick break to sip his black coffee. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;"The air in his office room is getting colder than before because of the combination of the AC and the weather outside, but it's not bothering him much since his mind on full focus on the work in front of him. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;"Seconds later, a telephone on his table is ringing. He stops his work and see it's the incoming call from his superior on board of director. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;""Suzui here" he said with a low baritone voice. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;""Ah, Suzui, I just want to tell you that there's a change in the plan for our client from Hokkaido and they want to arrange another meeting next week in Sapporo to discuss it furtherly. I'm dispatching you and Sugihara," said his boss. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;""No problem, boss. I'll take care of it" said Suzui. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;""Thank you, Suzui and don't forget to send the monthly report," said his boss. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;""I will" said Ryouta before he hangs up the call and returns to his unfinished work. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;"After finishing his all of his works and responsibilities for today, Ryouta stretched his stiff body for a couple of minutes. He looks at his watch and look outside the window for a seconds before covering them with curtains. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;"He then gathers all of his belongings into his sling bag and grab his navy-blue blazer from the hanger before going out from his office room. After locking the door, he makes his way to the lift that will takes him back to the ground floor. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;"He was greeted by several of his co-workers along the way in which he responded them with friendly attitude and smile. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;"When he gets on the ground floor, two female receptionists are greeting him and says good work for today in which he responded with smile once again. Behind the receptionist table, there is large neon logo of the company where he works which saying "Lexicon Ltd." Which is one of the largest private security companies in Japan. He's been working there for three years and now he's one of the senior managers. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;"Ryouta then walks to the parking bay and press the button of the automatic car key to unlock his metallic white Hyundai Palisade which was parked near the corner of the parking bay area. He enters his car and put his bag and blazer on the passenger seat next to him before he closes the door and starts the engine. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;"He decides to hear some afternoon news to accompany his journey back to his abode. Ryouta then drives away from the parking bay area to the front guard post to taps out. After that, he enters the busy road of Minato District. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;"The rain has starting to stop and as he always expected every single day, he quickly enters a traffic jam on the usual traffic lights intersections. After, the rush hour is on the peak at this time of the day where students and workers are coming back home. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;"He lets out a long breath and checks his watch. It's already near 18:30 PM. He remembers that he needs to make several stops first before going home. The light has turn green and Ryouta continues to steps on the gas towards Shibuya, all the way to Ebisu region. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;"After driving for another 30 minutes, Ryouta stops his car in front of a small flower shop on the small suburban area. He steps out and walk inside when an old woman and a young girl greets him behind the counter with cheerful tone. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;""I'd like to buy a bouquet of white lily flowers," said Ryouta. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;""Sure thing, Honoka, please get Suzui-san's order" said the old woman to the younger woman. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;""Yes, grandma," said the girl. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;""So, it's time of the year again," said the old woman. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;""Yeah, pretty much. By the way, how you and Honoka doing?" asked Ryouta. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;""I'm good and Honoka will be graduating soon. She's now busy preparing for her university entrance exam" said the old woman with smile. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;""I see. Time sure flies by, huh?" said Ryouta with a smile. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;""It's sure is, Suzui-san," said the old woman. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;"The young girl then comes back with nicely wrapped bucket of lily flowers. Ryouta then takes his wallet and give the old lady the payment for his flowers. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;""Here you go, Suzui-san" said the old lady while handing him the flowers bouquet. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;""Thank you very much and oh, Honoka, your grandma just told me that you're preparing for university entrance exam," said Ryouta. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;""Yes, I 'am Uncle Suzui. I'm aiming for Tokyo University," said Honoka. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;""That's great ambition, and I hope you can achieve your goal," said Ryouta. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;""Thank you, Uncle Suzui" said Honoka with a smile. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;""Well, I have to go now. Thank you for the flowers" said Ryouta before leaving the shop./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;""Be careful on your way, Suzui-san" said the old lady which Ryouta responded by waving his right hand a little. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;"He's entering his car again and drives away from the shop to his next stop which located just on the outer side of Tokyo City. It took him around one hour and fifteen minutes cruising on the road before he's arriving in front of a large cemetery gate. He parks his car on the parking are near the area. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;"He then takes the flowers Boquete from the passenger seat and steps outside from his car. He locks the car and then walk into the cemetery area. The sky starts to get more darker as the night starts to embrace and the lamps on the cemetery already lighting up. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;"He walks for some minutes across the big cemetery area full of traditional Japanese grave stones before he finally stops in front one of them. Ryouta is sighs a little and look at the grave. The inscription on the grave says "Mikami Nomura", with Ryouta's name below as he was described as "loving husband". /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;""emMikami, today we're celebrating our wedding anniversary once again. How are you, sweetheart? Look, I got your favourite flowers/em," said Ryouta on his heart. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;"He then placing the lily flowers bouquet in front of the grave before continue to stare at it with sad expression. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;""emI know it's been the million times I said this, but everything doesn't feel the same anymore without you on my side. I always remembered the times we spent together and I cherished every second of it. I miss you so much, Mikami. I miss you so much that I hope that I can hug you tightly right now in my arms and hears your voice once again. There's a lot of things in my heart and mind that I want to say to you/em" said Ryouta with tears pouring down on his cheeks. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;""emI'm sorry to cry like this, Mikami. You must be hating it, to see me like this, but it can't be helped. But, don't worry about me, Mikami. I'm promise to be stronger than ever and continue to live the best of my life like you said, because I believe that you are always looking after me from wherever you are right now,/em" said Ryouta while wiping out the tears from his eyes and cheeks. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;"After spending another thirty minutes with his late dear wife, Ryouta decides that it's the time for him to say goodbye. He put on a small kiss to her grave before walking down back to the cemetery gate. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;"Ryouta then goes back into his car. He lets out another long breath before starts his car's engine and drives away from the cemetery complex. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;"While his eyes focusing on the traffic in front of him, his mind then starts to play the memories about his late wife. He and Mikami were married for five and half years before cervix cancer took her away. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;"Mikami was always a cheerful and bright person even in the worst of time. She's like the sunflower and her smile is always calming him. She's also a very optimistic person who have big dream and he still remembers that she wants to have a large farmland in the countryside, so that they can spend everyday away from the noisy city life. An idea that also echoes in him too. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;"But fate told the otherwise, as her illness is getting worse day by day, and on one night, after they poured everything on their heart and mind, Mikami lets out her last breath. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;"It was one of the most devastating moments in his life. He didn't cry in her funeral, but his heart is screaming of the pain of losing her and it's still going on until today. But, after all, his wife's memory still lives on him and will forever be. span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;"…../span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;"Ryouta is finally arriving at his home which located on Setagaya District. After putting his belongings on his bedroom on the second floor, Ryouta is preparing for small dinner meals for him. He decides to make his wife's favourite paella dish since today is their anniversary today. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;"And so, Ryouta puts on an apron and starts preparing the ingredients from the refrigerator. After that, he then starts cooking. It's not taking him long to finish and he decides to eat his meal while watching some evening TV programs. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;"So, he brings the plate and the plate of warm paella on the living room. He then goes back to the kitchen and grabs a full bottle of cold water from the refrigerator and brings it to the living room. He then takes the portion of paella to his plate. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;"After that, Ryouta turns on the TV and decides to watch a reality show program while enjoying his dinner. The paella tastes so good in his mouth. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;"He remembers that he ate this Spanish's pride dish for the first time on his first home date with Mikami back then. Mikami was a professional chef back then, and she's mastering many kinds of dishes. This Paella is one of many recipes that Mikami taught to him. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;"Upon finishing the dinner, Ryouta gathers all the dirty plates and wash them all together in the sink and after everything is settled, Ryouta then goes upstairs to his room to take a cold shower before relaxing himself after a long day at work. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;"After taking the showers and dressed in his comfy home outfit, he immediately lies on his king-sized bed. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;""Ah, so tired" he said. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;"He then fixes his position and his hazel eyes then look at the photo frames on the desk in front of the bed. One of them is the photo of him and Mikami on their wedding day, six years ago. He smiles at it and then look at the empty space of bed that used to be Mikami's. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;"Every night after a long day, Ryouta and Mikami will exchange their stories of the day and sometimes, they also having serious discussion. Sometimes, they will also just cuddle up or watch some movies together. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;"Ryouta feels his eyes are getting heavier. He looks at the clock on the wall which showing 22:45 PM. The night is getting late and he needs to go to work tomorrow. He's jumping off from his bed and turns off the lamp of his bedroom. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;"He goes back to the bed and stares at ceiling for a moment and whispers slowly. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;""Good night, sweetheart, everything will be alright" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Cambria',serif;"And after that, he slowly falls asleep. /span/p