Chapter 44: My life at home

[Waiting for Superman by Chris Daughtry]

Alone at the nearby café. Michael takes a sip of his coffee while Yuri drinks her tea. None of them spoke a word to each other, other than a hello. The café was somewhat empty probably due to people wanting to stay at home nearby the fire or using their heaters. It was somewhat quiet as the café plays soothing music.

Michael: "I'm glad you came when Sayori called you. Sorry for bothering you on a Monday."

Yuri: "N-no I'm glad to be here. I'm very sorry that I couldn't come yesterday. I had other errands to run at home."

Michael: "It's ok. You have your own life to live. I'm just glad we can meet today."

Yuri: "I'm grateful to hear that." She looks around to see it was now just her and Michael. Her heart started to pound as the last customer left and the worker went into the back. "May I ask why Sayori and Monika couldn't have joined?"

Michael: "I wanted this talk to be just between us. I told Sayori to stay home and I didn't bother telling Monika about this."

Yuri: "I-I see." She nervously sips more of her tea. (It's just us two. Just like when I went to his house to work on the banners. I wonder why he brought me here. He wanted to talk to me, but about what?)

Michael: "I'm sorry if I'm being a little forceful or if I am being very forceful at all, but can you tell me more about you and Natsuki?"

Yuri: "Hm?"

Michael: "On Saturday Natsuki came over to my place and told me her side of the story about what happened."

Yuri: "Did she now?"

Michael: "Yeah, when she finished, I started to realize something about her. Her life is similar to mine. She told me everything I needed to know about how she got in trouble and how Sebastian's friends ruined her mom's present. The first volume of Parfait Girls.

When she told me that it made me wonder more about her family life. I already know about her mom's death, but I know nothing about her dad. When I asked her, she refused and it came to me that she has problems with her dad. I know that I might be jumping the gun a bit which is why I asked you to come here with me. Do you know anything about her life? I'm sorry for asking you this all of a sudden."

Yuri: "I see." She puts down her tea on the table. (I'm sorry, but I must break this promise. For you and him.) "If it will help then I will make myself as useful as I can." She places her hand on her heart.

Michael: "Thank you Yuri."

Yuri: "No thank you." He looks to her in confusion. (Forgive me.) "First to understand everything I must address how Natsuki and I met."

Michael: "How you two met?"

Yuri: "Indeed, we first met when we were in grade school. Back then she wasn't really the mean type, as a matter of fact she was a very open person."

Michael: "She was?"

Yuri: "Yes, she would say what she liked and wasn't afraid to talk with new people regardless of their personality or gender. You could say she had a bit of Sayori's personality."

Michael: "Another Sayori? My god they're spreading."

[Song Ends]

Yuri: "Indeed, when we were young, I was learning how to read a book. I don't remember what I was reading to be exact, but it doesn't really matter as Natsuki came up to me one day. She asked if I wanted to play, but I was hesitant."

Michael: "Was it because you were shy?"

Yuri: "Indeed, my classmates would make fun of me for reading. Called me names, but Natsuki didn't really care for that. She came up to me and asked what I was reading. Ever since we've been together. Even when I'm older I stayed the same." She looks away from him. "As she changed."

Michael: "… You know where she lives don't you?"

Yuri: "… Yes, I'm sorry for not speaking up sooner." She grips her hands tightly.

Michael: "Why? Why didn't you say so sooner?"

Yuri: "It was because I made a promise to her."

Michael: "A promise?"

Yuri: "After her mother passed away, she told me not to say a word to anyone and to not visit her anymore no matter what. When she was blamed for the fight, I could have said something, but instead I kept my mouth shut. Worried about her hating me for breaking that promise. If I had said something then maybe we would have done something sooner, but instead of just kept silent, doing nothing. I feel so a shame on myself. Why couldn't I say something this important? Why did I keep it silent when all of you were struggling to help her. I really am useless." She started to look like she was having a panic attack as her pupils shrunk.

Michael: "Yuri" He places his hand on hers causing her to have a small gasp as she looks down on his warm hand. When she saw that, she looks at his eye. "Now's not the time to feel sorry. We both got to focus on Natsuki."

Yuri: "Yes … you're right. Allow me pull myself together and continue on with what you really want to know." He stays silent as she regains herself before continuing. "Her parents … they were wonderful people. The most amazing people you could've met. Her mother was kind and very open minded. You could talk to her about anything and she would understand it. So lovely, so nice, she would never stop letting people know how much she loved Natsuki. She loved her very much. If you were to see her, you would be surprised on how much they look alike."

Michael: "I probably would."

Yuri: "As for her father, he was the same. So strong, so protective, and very well intelligent. Just like his wife he was open minded. They were the perfect family until that day. The day they lost her … her mother passed away due to an illness. So heartbroken, so hurt, they lost the will to move on. Ever since then Natsuki and her dad never saw eye to eye. After her mother died and I saw her … she changed. She became what she is now. Distant and mean, but even so she was still a good person inside."

Michael: "Like how she gives you treats as an apology."

Yuri: "Yeah"

Michael: "Thank you for telling me. You're a good friend."

Yuri: "Maybe"

Michael: "Don't feel bad. You be surprised how much you mean to her."

Yuri: "Huh?" He gets up off his seat.

Yuri: "Leaving now?"

Michael: "Yeah, I got stuff to do now."

Yuri: "Then you're going to need her address." She pulls out her phone and gave him a text.

Michael: "Thank you."

Yuri: "Please be sure to be careful. You're still not completely healed."

Michael: "I know, but the pain is nothing to me anymore. I'll talk to you later." He leaves the café, leaving Yuri to herself and her tea.

Worker: "Oh did your boyfriend leave already?" He says as he starts wiping down the tables and Yuri almost spits out her tea.

Yuri: "H-h-h-h-he's not my boyfriend."

Worker: "Ah, my mistake."

Yuri: "I-it's quite alright, b-but he is a good person at heart."

Worker: "Is he now? Well either way you should've helped him out. That poor boy forced to use those crutches."

Yuri: "I know what you mean, but he's strong will. His injury is never enough to stop him from doing what he feels is right." She thinks back to when he faced Sara.

Worker: "Sounds like you like him a lot to speak so highly of him?"

Yuri: "Yeah, m-maybe?" (He has changed a lot. When we first met, he was somewhat distant from everyone else, but even then, he was nice enough to cheer a person like me up when I was upset and hurt. I'm grateful to have met him, but this feeling in my heart. It's warm, but my body feels fear. Why? Perhaps I do have feelings for him.)

[Walking Thru Barbed Wire by Papa Roach]

Struggling to walk with his crutches through the snowy streets. He made his way to his next destination. Determine to speak up, Michael traveled through miles of the cold winter to reach Natsuki's house. He knew that if he couldn't do anything to help her, he would at least listen to her and hoped for the best. It was all he can do.

This wasn't about helping her with her suspension. It was about helping her speak up and to not give up no matter how difficult it may seem. He wanted to speak with Natsuki because he enjoyed reading Manga with her and to hear her share her thoughts rather than covering them up. With that thought in mind. Michael started walking without his crutch a bit. He still felt some pain, but he wanted to walk through the pain. If he could walk through barbed wires, then he could walk through this pain.

Every step he took he started to remember the good times he had with Natsuki and the others. He wanted to see that smile of hers again. He never wanted to see that sad face she made before again. He wants to read with her again, he wants to play games with her again, talk with her again, but most importantly he wanted his friend back. The club was nothing when one is missing.

It may seem dumb to others that someone would go through all this to help one person, but he didn't care what others thought about it or think about him. The only thing he wants is to move forward with his friends. The same friends that never gave up on him.

At long last Michael reached Natsuki's place. He looked at his message from Yuri to see if he got the right place. When he saw that he was correct he slowly walked up some small stairs and rang the doorbell. He waited patiently for someone to answer. He was aware that there could be a chance that it could be her dad, but he was prepared to face him should the need arrive.

He hoped that Natsuki would be home and not be sneaking around town like she did Saturday when she visited. He kept waiting until someone answered and straighten himself when he heard the door unlock.

[Song Ends]

Natsuki: "Hello? Michael?" She looks at him shockingly.

Michael: "Hey Natsuki. How's it been?" He salutes to her. "You look different?" He looks at her with her hair down.

Natsuki: "You mean my hair? Well, it's not like I'm going anywhere so there's no need for me to tie it or anything."

Michael: "Reasonable"

Natsuki: "How did you find me?"

Michael: "Yuri told me."

Natsuki: "I should've known." (She broke our promise.) "Well, it was nice seeing you. Later." She attempts to close the door, but Michael stopped her by using his crutch.

Michael: "Natsuki, I want you to be honest with me. I want to hear from you. Please."

Natsuki: "Why? After how I treated you and the others, why do you want to help me?"

Michael: "It's because you're our friend. We understand more about you than anyone else."

Natsuki: "That's nice of you, but this is no one's business." She looks away from him avoiding eye contact.

Michael: "Maybe, but that doesn't mean you have to face it alone." She looks to his determined eye.

Natsuki: "… How are you like this?"

Michael: "Huh?"

Natsuki: "How are you like this? Back then you always kept your distance from us. You always acted like you couldn't do anything. You let people say things about you and get into fights. How are you like this now? How are you all of a sudden more open? How!?" She looks deeply into his revealed gold eye.

Michael: "It's because I had you and the others by my side."

Natsuki: "What?"

Michael: "I had you four to inspire me to do better. I wouldn't be the way I am if I never joined the Literature Club. Sayori was willing to do anything for me to do better. Yuri spoke up to inspire me to do the same. Monika showed me determination and you, you taught me to be more open by speaking what's on my mind. To be honest with you, I'm jealous of your strength. You say what needed to be said and you have the strength to back it up."

Natsuki: (I did that for him? Me, the one who's always mean to him, inspired him? He changed for the better because we motivated him to? I always hated myself because I was jealous of everyone else.

Monika's popularity, Sayori's personality, Yuri's body and intelligence, and Michael's inner strength. All I ever had was my Manga collection, but to hear him say he was jealous of something I had.)

"It's getting cold out here. Let's finish our talk inside." She opens the door wide for Michael to enter. "You can take a seat over there." She points at the couch.

Michael: "Thanks." He takes a seat and lays his crutches near him. "Where's your dad?"

Natsuki: "He's at work. He won't be back until nighttime."

Michael: "I see." He looks around his area. He saw some old photos of her and her family. The look on their faces, so peaceful and so happy. How could they lose it all? He looked at a young Natsuki, so small, but so happy. He saw next to her, her parents.

A man with brown hair and pink eyes. It seemed Natsuki got her eyes from her dad. He looked to see her mom and saw a very cheerful woman with pink hair and light blue eyes. When he looked at her, Michael realized that Yuri was indeed telling the truth that Natsuki and her mom do look alike.

Natsuki: "Listen carefully, because I ain't going to repeat myself." Michael nods as she takes her seat across from him. "You're the first person I'm going to tell this to. I never once told Yuri about this at least the full story."

Michael: "I understand."

She takes a deep breath before speaking again.

Natsuki: (Here goes.)

"My family … we used to be a very happy one back then. My parents got along with each other really well. My mom used to read me stories when I was young. My dad was a hard worker. We used to go out and have fun together as a family. Those were the times I could never forget, but now … they're too painful to remember. My whole life changed when my mom died. My dad left in severe grief and so was I.

When we heard that my mom was suffering due to a disease, we didn't know what to do. My dad hoped that the doctors could cure her and he be willing to pay for it, but in reality, they couldn't do anything. It was too late. Those last moments I shared with my mom were on her hospital bed. Left alone me and my dad grieved by her cold body wishing she didn't have to go.

We never asked for her to leave, but life had to say fuck you and took her from us. Ever since the funeral our lives changed. We changed. I remember going to my dad's room after hearing him cry for my mom. I came to check on him and when I touched his shoulder, he looked at me with despair in his eyes and slapped me away from him. He looked down on me and told me it was my fault that mom died.

He dropped down on his knees and cried some more ignoring my feelings. I missed mom too. Ever since then he would barley buy me food and give money. It's because of this treatment I am the way I am. My body is malnourished and because of him people would look down on me as a child when in reality I'm the same age as everyone else in our grade. Every time someone mocks me for my appearance, I get so irritated because they don't know nothing of what I've been through! When they see me with you or the others, they think I'm someone's younger sister, daughter or just some dumb kid they have to watch over!"

She tries to calm herself before continuing.

"My dad barley feeds me anymore, but then again he's no different. He eats less than me. So malnourished he isn't the same man I knew as a child. When I see him, I don't see my dad, all I see is a dead man walking. Ever since he hit me and blamed me, he started blaming himself. Felt he should've done more to save her but couldn't. He couldn't accept the fact she's gone.

Soon enough, he would turn all his problems on me. Whenever he sees me, he sees mom. He would always push me aside. Not wanting to see or listen to me. In the end we both drifted apart. Whenever we do speak to each other it boils down to a fight. My dad always looks down on me for liking Manga and anything that resembles something for kids.

That's why I leave my Manga collection at the club room so he wouldn't know because if he did then he would most likely take it all away from me. Including mom's gift and most likely beat me. I wanted this to end. The suffering, but there's nothing I can do. Even if I speak up there's nothing, I can do to end this suffering."

She starts tearing up as Michael keeps his mouth shut allowing her to share her emotions. When she started to calm down, he finally spoke up.

Michael: "Have you ever tried telling your dad how you really feel?"

Natsuki: "Why should I? Nothing is going to change. We never spoke for years so there's nothing to say. We never see each other face to face only to argue when we do."

Michael: "If you hate your dad so much then how come you never told the police?"

Natsuki: "If I did that then what will happen to me? The police will take my dad away then I'll truly be alone. Most likely I will have to go to a different school to make things more convenient for the orphanage or something. That is something I can't handle."

Michael: "Yeah you're right. Sorry for bothering you. I'll … take my leave." He picks up his crutches and gets up. "Thank you for telling me your family life."

Natsuki: "Try to be careful on your way back."

Michael: "I will." He leaves her house.

Natsuki: "Idiot, there's nothing for me to say to my dad. Not now, not never."

As the snow begins to fall again, Michael stares up at the dark sky. The streetlights turning on as the sun goes down for the night. After hearing her story, he now wonders if there really is no solution in helping her. He felt that his spirit broke and begins his walk home.

While he heads home Natsuki heads up to the attic to see a white and gold chest. The very same chest her mom left behind. The same chest that Natsuki has the key for, but refusing to see what lies inside it. Staring at it causes her pain in her heart. Not wanting to see any further she went back down and headed to her room. In the meantime, while he walks down the streets he walks past a man with a 5'0 clock shadow heading in the opposite direction he's going. For a brief second as soon as they cross paths, it felt as if time itself stopped.

Natsuki's Dad: (That boy seems crazy. Why would you walk around in the snow on crutches rather than staying at home? Kids these days. They don't know when to grow up.)

End of Chapter 44