By Your Side

Birds were singing joyfully outside on a summer morning. The sunlight passed trough the shutters and the window, gently caressing Iwao's face. This sweet warmth told him that it was time to wake up.

He had slept peacefully, so he woke up without effort. It was the sign that a beautiful day was ahead. He put one foot out of his bed. “It’s warm.” He thought.

He put on his brown uniform on, combed his hair, and looked at himself in the mirror, adjusting every imperfect detail in his appearance. He was ready to go downstairs for breakfast.

He went down with a broad smile on his face. He was determined to make this day even better.

In the kitchen, his mother was waiting for him. She was cooking his breakfast – not the typical Japanese one, but eggs, bacon, and orange juice. She smiled at him as she watched him devour the plate she had served.

The sun streaming through the kitchen window behind his mother made it hard for Iwao to see her clearly, giving her a near-divine aura. Yet her smile was comforting, full of energy and of her love. It was all Iwao could see – his source of energy for the school day.

Afterward, he went to the front door to put on his shoes, while his mother leaned against the wall in the entrance, watching him. Iwao didn’t turn to face her. He simply listened.

“Goodbye, Iwao. Have a great day at school and give it your all! I have something for you when you come back. So make this day the best of your life, like always. And smile a lot. I love you.”

“Thanks, mom! I’m off now!” Iwao replied, a wide smile on his face as he left the house.

Iwao Aoki, ten years old, was on his way to school.

Before the first class, some of his classmates were gathered around him.

“Hey, Aoki, could you lend me a pencil, please?” A classmate asked.

“No problem! Here you go!” Iwao replied, handing it over.

“Aoki, could you help me understand this question, please? The teacher’s explanation wasn’t very clear.” Another classmate asked.

He explained the question patiently and returned to his work just as the first class was about to begin. As soon as the teacher entered the room, he turned to Iwao.

“Aoki, come to the board. Recite the poem I told you to learn and show everyone the correct pronunciation. Listening to you is a blessing for the ears.” The teacher said.

Iwao stood up and walked from the back of the classroom to the board, a big smile on his face – proud to be the one setting the example, proud to be complimented by his teacher. After he finished, everyone applauded. He returned to his seat happily.

The morning passed quickly.

At lunch in the cafeteria, some classmates sat down beside him, asking him questions about the lessons or other things. He was happy to answer them all, and even happier to see the bright smiles on their faces when they understood or received the answers they needed.

In the afternoon, the sun blazed through the windows, but outside the temperature was pleasantly warm, reflecting Iwao’s state of mind – joyful and carefree.

At the end of the day, as he changed back into his shoes, many classmates came to thank him for all his help. He was happy. He had helped so many people that day.

But all day long, he had been waiting for one thing: his mother’s surprise. He had done as she told him – he had lived a beautiful and happy day. Everything around him seemed to shine. He was living the peaceful life of a carefree children.

He left the school hopping, waving goodbye to classmates, and took the road home, where he and his mother lived together.

It was a small detached house, but it was a good place to live. If his mother and he were happy, that was what mattered the most.

As soon as he entered the house and took off his shoes, he smelled a sweet, tangy aroma coming from the kitchen.

He walked slowly, peeking through the kitchen door to see what was going on, trying to be discreet. His mother was baking his favorite cake. It was in the oven, nearly finished.

“You’re smelling the cake, Iwao? Sweet, isn’t it? Come take a bite, you’ve come at just the right time. I made it just for you.” His mother said. She wasn’t in a position to see him, but knew he was there.

He entered the kitchen openly. There was no reason for him to hide anymore.

He jumped into his mother’s arms.

“Mom, today was such a happy day. I helped so many people, the weather was nice, and even the teacher complimented me. It made me so happy.” He said enthusiastically.

“Oh! That’s wonderful news, Iwao. You deserve this freshly baked cake.”

She put on her kitchen gloves and took the cake out of the oven. The smell filled the room even more.

“Here you go – lemon meringue pie, your favorite!” She exclaimed.

Iwao sat at the table, waiting eagerly for his mother to serve him a slice. He was excited – her lemon meringue pie was the best.

“But first, you have to wait a little. I know you like it hot, but it’s best when it’s cool. So, we’ll let it cool to room temperature!” His mother said.

Iwao was disappointed. He was eager to taste it. But he waited. And when the time finally came, he couldn’t wait a second longer. He took a bite.

He smiled, leaning back in his chair, spoon in hand, a broad smile spreading across his face.

“Mom, I love it! Thank you! It makes me so happy!”

“Haha! There’s plenty more! Take your time.”

His mother laughed, seeing her child so happy.

This pie was so delicious that it magnified the joy Iwao had felt all day. It also carried a taste of nostalgia, as he had been eating it as long as he could remember. It brought back all the happiness of his young life.

And as the sun began to set, both mother and son smiled, sharing a moment of pure joy together.

******************************

“I totally forgot all of that… haha…” Iwao said, wiping the tears from his face.

He put his hand on his forehead, trying to hide his tears.

“So there was happiness after all… It was when “he” arrived that I started to forget all of this…” Iwao thought, crying once again as the memories struck him.

He looked up and stared at everyone, one after the other.

“But it’s not enough… not enough to change what happened afterward and what happened in this world. My life has been horrible since then. I can’t go back on my decision just for this. If I have to die, I will. Thank you for the memories, tartlet. At least I remembered that my mom was a good person. In a certain way… it just gives me more hope of quickly becoming human once again, and of living other moments like this one...”

They all stared at him, not knowing what to do. But Celi moved first, rushing to Iwao’s side. Saya followed her example.

“Hey, Iwao, we didn’t think a simple tartlet could make you cry like this. Sorry for buying it…” Celi apologized.

They both stood by his side, each grabbing a shoulder to help him calm down.

“Take your time, don’t rush. This taste brought you back memories, didn’t it?” Celi asked.

She looked him straight in the eyes. Her gaze was as comforting as her voice.

“We will always be here, no matter what happens. We won’t leave, so take your time if you can’t explain it to us now. We’ll wait. Maybe you don't realize it, but you’re not a horrible monster – you’re yourself. And you prove it to us more every day by showing that you know us better than we do. We’d like to say the same about you, so let us know what it’s really like inside your head. Let us explore the parts of you that make you cry like this. We trust each other every day with our lives – don’t hide the painful things.” She continued.

Celi took Saya by the shoulders and placed her right in front of Iwao’s gaze.

“Look at Saya – she appreciates you now and truly cares for you. That wasn’t the case at the beginning, but you showed her who you really are, and she saw through your appearance.”

Saya was embarrassed by this sudden action but didn’t remain silent any longer.

“You know, Iwao... If appearance was a factor that reduced people to loneliness and despair, trapping the ugly or horrifying in a vicious spiral, we would miss out on so many incredible people. I’m sure there are others who could see you as we’re seeing you right now. So, while waiting for you to become human, try to accept this appearance. Embrace it – and we will help you integrate into this world after we’ve dealt with my father. Everything is going to be alright. We’ll take care of the things you can’t do alone. Trust us – don’t carry everything by yourself. I made the right decision when I chose to join you, and I don’t regret it. I’m proud to say that I did well to learn to see beyond your appearance.” She said to comfort him.

Iwao looked at both of them, then at Lo, who was watching silently from his place, observing as if it didn’t had the right to intervene.

“I really don't deserve them. They’re too good… I’m showing myself weak in front of them... I'm a burden.” Iwao thought.

He stood up, stopping the soft voices of Celi and Saya, who had been encouraging him with comforting words.

“I must not worry them any longer. Thanks, Celi and Saya. I’m feeling better now. I think I’m just a little weak and tired after everything that happened.” Iwao said, hiding behind a fake smile.

Both of them stood straight, a sad look on their faces.

“We know how to recognize your fake smiles, Iwao…” Celi thought.

Saya and her whispered to each other, careful not to be heard by Iwao. Then they pointed at him, mischievous smiles on their faces.

“So, it’s our duty to make you think of something else, to make you forget about all the things that sadden you.” Celi said.

Iwao looked perplexed by their words.

“Didn’t I say that everything was okay…?” He thought.

“Starting tomorrow, it’ll be training for you. Hard training!” Saya exclaimed.

They laughed, proud of their decision.

Iwao, confused, smiled a little.

“I reiterate what I was thinking – they’re really incredible.” He thought.

“So it’s decided. We’ll start tomorrow morning!” Saya said enthusiastically.

Afterward, Saya and Celi ate their meal and went to sleep. Iwao was not feeling hungry and decided to go to sleep too.

“I won’t go to the village tonight to eat nightmares, even with my invisibility. Everything has cut off my appetite.”

Lo, however, was looking outside. It couldn’t sleep after everything that had happened. It stayed awake all night until the suns rose into the sky.

“Mother, will you one day tell me why you left me? Will I ever be able to stand by Iwao’s side like Celi and Saya?”

ARC 2: The Heart Unveiled | Finished