Mei and I continued to sit in silence for who knows how long, just enjoying each other's company. It was kind of strange. Only a couple of hours had passed since I witnessed Yu's date—which was filled with nothing but laughter. That wasn't to say that I didn't enjoy my time with Mei. I just found it interesting how, even though we are doing opposite things, both he and I were enjoying ourselves in our own ways.
Still, I didn't want to spend too much time in silence, so I decided to start a conversation.
"So if I didn't call out to you today, would you have just spent your whole time studying?"
Mei's thumb slowly traced mine as she replied. "Probably. During exam season, my Father wants me to focus purely on my studies."
There was no hint of anger or annoyance in her voice, only flat acceptance. Noticing that, I couldn't help but furrow my brow slightly.
Well, doesn't that sound awfully familiar…
"Then how are you able to be here now?" I asked.
"He isn't home right now, so I just left," she said, staring off into the distance. "When he is though, I tell him that I'm going out on a walk to clear my head. He doesn't care as long as that's the reason."
Even though we've spent almost every day together here for the past week, I still didn't know much about Mei. All I knew about her home life was that she lived with a Mom, Father, and Uncle. I didn't know anything about anyone except her Dad, and even then, it was only surface-level knowledge. But, even from what little I did know, I could tell her Father was a point of contention.
"Wow, your Father kind of sounds like my Mom," I mused.
It was only then that Mei turned to me, looking me in the eye, as if she were seeing past my face and gazing into... me. She remained unmoving, processing the words—until she let out a cheery giggle.
"How did Yu do on his date? I can't help but be a little curious."
I shrugged. "Well, from what I remember, I'd say he did pretty well. Actually, he even made her laugh out loud at one point."
Mei's eyes widened in shock. "Whoa. Sounds like things went well for him then. Good for him."
After that, the silence returned.
It stretched until Mei suddenly took out her phone and checked the time. I peeked over at her screen from the side. About an hour had passed since we arrived here.
A touch of emptiness made its way to her expression, but her cheery smile remained.
"Sorry, Hoshino, but I have to get going now. My Father has my location, so if he sees me out for too long, he might get suspicious."
My Mom also had my location, so I understood the struggle of being out too late. While I didn't care too much about it now, I did back then.
I gave her an understanding nod. "That's fine. I should probably head back, too."
We both stood up and began walking to the end of the alleyway. We kept our hands tethered together the whole way. Once we reached the end, we both stopped.
To get home, I needed to take a right, while she needed to take a left.
I took a quick breath before turning to Mei with a small smile.
"Well, I'm going to get going now. Get home safe. I'll see you tomorrow."
Mei met my gaze with her own smile.
"You too! I'll see you tomorrow!"
Without saying anything else, we both turned to our designated directions and took a single step. That single step turned into two, then much more. Our hands stretched from behind us as we clung on, refusing to let go—until they were forced apart.
There was something there, but it wasn't bright or warm. It wasn't anything remorseful, either. It was more like… like I was leaving a part of me behind—or losing a part of me.
I felt the urge to turn back, so I did. There she was, looking back at me just like I was.
I chuckled and shook my head.
Mei, meanwhile, giggled and gave a small bow.
Our gazes lingered on each other for just a beat longer before we both turned around at the same time. For the remainder of my walk home, I didn't look back again.
***
Dad POV:
I quietly stepped back into the house and slid off my shoes. My wife didn't greet me or ask how it went. She didn't even bother look up from her phone as I entered the living room.
Clenching my fists, I drew a slow breath and let it out in a steady stream.
"Excuse me, but would you mind having a little chat?"
"What is there to talk about?" she replied coldly, keeping her gaze fixed on her phone.
I felt the muscles on my face twitch, but I maintained my childish smile.
"C'mon, don't be like that," I said lightheartedly. "I think we need to talk about what to do with our Son."
Throughout the past couple of years, our Son had kept his distance from us. Personally, I thought it was perfectly normal for someone his age—especially after everything we'd done.
So I tried to give him as much space as possible.
However, even I couldn't deny that he had been... changing recently. I still couldn't tell what he was thinking, and he still always had that detached expression on his face—but he usually didn't stay out late.
I had no problems if he did, but my Son was the type to hang out with friends one day, then stay home the next because his social battery was drained.
But ever since sports day, he'd been going out every single day.
I thought there was nothing wrong with this. Maybe he made new friends, or maybe his friendships grew stronger. Either way, I was happy for him.
Still... I couldn't help but get a little worried. Not about his well-being, I knew he could take care of himself, but I worry as a Dad.
It felt like with each passing day, he was growing further and further away from us. I knew my Wife could be extreme, but I also knew that at the end of the day, her worries were the same as mine.
No—maybe even more intense than I could even imagine.
My Wife's thumb suddenly froze.
"Oh yeah? And what do you suggest we do?" she asked, struggling to maintain a calm, graceful tone.
I walked towards her with even steps until I was inches away from the couch.
"I understand that you're worried for him, but we should just leave him be. He can handle himself–"
"Don't be ridiculous!" she shouted.
She slammed her phone into the couch. I flinched.
"You want me to sit back while my Son could be ruining his future?! He has exams coming up, and you want me to let him go out every day?!"
She took a quick, seething breath, then continued. "Don't be stupid! He's almost halfway through his last year of high school, entrance exams are right around the corner, and you want me to let him... play?!"
My Wife shot up from the couch, the floor quaking as her heel slammed into it.
"No! I won't let that happen! I don't care if he hates me! If it's for the well-being of his future, then I'll do whatever it takes! I won't let him have regrets like us!"
My body immediately tensed, and my head dropped. I could still feel my Wife's piercing gaze on the top of my head.
Seconds passed with neither of us saying anything.
Eventually, she let out one last seething breath before collapsing back onto the couch.
I tried to speak, but the words caught in my throat.
It was because deep down—I knew she was right. There was nothing wrong with anything she just said. As a parent, I had the same worries she did.
But…
I bit the inside of my mouth.
"Still," I muttered, my voice trembling. "Even if we try to tell him what to do, he won't listen. All we can do is just trust him and move on."
My words didn't even get the chance to linger in the air before being swallowed by her bitter scoff.
"That's what you always do—nothing. You can do that if it makes you feel better, but I won't. I will keep doing what I think is right. And I won't be like you."
My heart sank in my chest as her words twisted into my mind.
"That's what you always do—nothing."
I clenched my fists so hard that the blood drained from them. A bubbling rage that I haven't felt in years surged in my body and almost exploded out of my throat.
Before anything could come out, however, I stopped. I slowly brought my gaze to my clenched fists. Seeing them in that form, the same form from all those years ago...
The rage receded into the depths of my being—replaced by nothing but a tide of overwhelming guilt.
She's… right.
I took a step back.
I haven't changed at all.
My fists unclenched.
I'm just doing the same thing I've always done.
My childish smile—
This is why—
—vanished.
—I don't have the right to do anything.
Everything after that was a blur.
By the time I came to, I was lying in bed, staring absent-mindedly at the ceiling.
Yet, even in my mind's haze, two voices still managed to reach me.
"That's what you always do—nothing."
And...
"T-thank you."