After that night, more performances came, and the number of fans doubled. It was incredible how everything was happening: the band, their friendship, and the relationship between them. Everything felt so perfect.
"Where are you going?" her father asked.
"To meet some college friends."
Finally, her father stood up from the couch and folded the newspaper shut.
"Don't you think you've been going out too much at night? What kind of studying do you do that late?" he questioned.
Sayuri was already tired of this, but she knew avoiding confrontation would save her from many problems.
"It's a book club. We meet and discuss different topics..."
He stared at her silently for a few seconds, as if trying to figure out whether she was lying.
"And it's late because some members of the group work during the afternoon..."
"Dear, let her go. These are the last months of school, and it's good for her to make connections..."
"Fine, but come home afterward. No sleeping out again."
Sayuri put on her coat and sighed.
"I will, Dad..."
Applause.
Lights.
Screams.
The crowd was euphoric. Jun tried to catch his breath while drinking from a bottle of water.
"I'm still not used to this."
"Well, I'm loving the fame," Kenji said as he sat down.
Sayuri adjusted Jun's hair before he went back onstage.
"I'll be right back," he said, kissing her.
They finished the show perfectly and said goodbye to the audience. When the bar was finally empty, they started packing up the instruments.
Kenji closed the trunk and cracked his back.
"I'm exhausted. I just want to get home and throw myself into bed."
Jun said he was cold while hugging Sayuri beneath his coat, keeping her warm.
"Want to go home?"
"I can't tonight, Jun..."
He looked at her.
"Something wrong?"
She let out a heavy sigh.
"My dad... he's getting really suspicious and keeps watching me all the time."
"You still haven't told him?" Kenji asked.
"Of course not. You have no idea how scary and controlling her father is," Yume said.
"But wouldn't telling him avoid a lot of problems?"
Sayuri let out an awkward laugh.
"Not at all. It would only create even more problems..."
"That's complicated..." Kenji muttered.
Jun pulled her tightly against his chest.
"It's okay... I can wait as long as necessary."
Sayuri closed her eyes. Deep down, what scared her the most wasn't telling them about Jun... it was losing all of this.
"Alright then, let's go."
Jun started the motorcycle while Sayuri put on her helmet.
"See you later," he said before driving off.
Near her house, he parked on the corner. When she got off, she looked upset, and he immediately noticed.
"Look at this..."
"What?" he asked, confused.
"Does this seem right to you, Jun? You automatically stop at the corner now... without me even asking... it makes me feel awful about myself..."
A pause.
"I'm tired of hiding like this, but I still can't face my family..."
"Hey, calm down, love. Everything's going to be okay. Don't think like that." He got off the motorcycle. "Look... you'll graduate soon, and things will get better..."
She touched his face gently.
"Jun... since when did you become so mature?"
He laughed softly.
"But seriously, Say... do you want me to go talk to your dad? I'll ask permission to date you."
"Jun, don't exaggerate..."
"I'll go right now!"
She grabbed him from behind.
"Are you crazy?!"
He turned around and lifted her into his arms.
"I'm joking..."
The two started laughing, breaking the heavy tension.
Sayuri walked into the house smiling. Her parents had apparently already gone to bed. She headed into the kitchen to get some water, but when she turned around, she came face to face with her father.
"Dad... I thought you were already asleep."
"I came to get a glass of water..."
"Oh... then I'm going to bed. Goodnight, Dad."
"Goodnight, Sayuri..."
As she walked past him, he caught a different scent and stopped her.
"New perfume?"
Sayuri froze.
"Yes... do you like it?"
Her father looked at her suspiciously. It didn't smell like the perfumes she usually wore.
"Interesting... vanilla?"
"Mhm... well, I'm going upstairs now. I'm tired, Dad..."
He didn't say anything else, but remained thoughtful. As soon as Sayuri got to her room, she took off her coat.
"Wow... I didn't realize I smelled like Jun. It must've happened when he hugged me under his coat... I need to be more careful."
Sunday morning, her father left early to go grocery shopping. While choosing vegetables, he noticed that same scent in the air. When he turned to the side, he saw Mrs. Midori.
"Good morning," she greeted him. "Buying some vegetables?"
"Good morning, ma'am..."
At that moment, he looked behind her and saw him: that boy with dark hair, clothes covered in buckles, and a bandana tied around his head.
"Jun, grab one of these," Mrs. Midori said, pointing toward the stand.
As Jun stepped closer, Sayuri's father realized the perfume scent was coming from him, and he couldn't believe it.
It wasn't possible.
He kept staring at Jun with a hostile look, refusing to accept the idea that his daughter could possibly be involved with someone like him...
"No..." he muttered without realizing it.
"Did you say something?" Midori asked.
"Nothing. It was good seeing you, but I need to go now. Have a good Sunday."
The man walked away quickly, slowly tightening the grocery bag between his fingers.
No.
It couldn't be.
His daughter would never get involved with a boy like that.
When he got home, her father immediately called for Sayuri, knocking three times on her bedroom door with no answer.
"Where's Sayuri?"
"I asked her to buy coffee. We ran out... why?"
"I need to check something."
Her mother kept staring at him.
"Do you know what perfume she was wearing yesterday? I want to see the bottle."
"What for?"
"I already said, I need to check something..."
Curious, her mother ended up texting Sayuri.
Daughter, what perfume were you wearing yesterday?
A new one, Mom. Why?
Your father wants to see the bottle. Where is it?
Sayuri panicked instantly.
"What do I do now?!"
She grabbed the coffee and hurried out of the store, desperately trying to think. Suddenly, someone pulled her gently.
"Good morning."
"Jun!! Thank goodness..."
"What happened? You look nervous."
"Can I borrow your perfume?"
"My perfume?"
"Yes, please. I'll explain later..."
Jun didn't understand what was happening, but he agreed.
"Here," he said, handing her the bottle on the corner.
"Thank you, Jun. I have to go now, but I promise I'll explain later."
"Alright then..." he said, scratching the back of his neck in confusion.
She slipped back into the house quietly, ran upstairs, hid the perfume bottle inside her wardrobe, then went downstairs to the kitchen.
"I'm back. Wow, the market was crowded today."
"Sayuri..." her father called.
"Yes?"
"Can I see that perfume?"
"Which perfume?" she asked, pretending not to know.
"The new one you wore yesterday."
"Sure, I'll go get it."
She climbed the stairs pretending to stay calm, but inside she was trembling. When she came back down, she handed him the bottle, and he immediately smelled it.
"Hm..."
"Can I smell it too?" her mother asked curiously.
Her father handed her the bottle.
"Sayuri... wow... this perfume is different."
"Different?" Sayuri asked nervously.
"It's not your style..."
"Oh, Mom, I'm trying new things that match the season..."
"I see. Alright then, I'll prepare breakfast."
"So, Dad, did you like it?"
He placed the bottle on the table and kept staring at it, shaking his head in disapproval.
"Not my type. Too sweet. You shouldn't wear something like this. It doesn't suit you..."
Sayuri didn't fully understand his reaction. He had never cared about something as trivial as perfume before. Even so, she said she would try not to wear it too much.
She hid the perfume bottle back inside her wardrobe and slowly let out a breath.
"Wow... that was close..."