Chapter 5:
Struggles of the heart
Story of My Life: Revenge or Love?
The library was silent except for the rustle of paper. Shiromi sat at a corner desk, stacks of newspapers and old records spread before her.
She flipped through the yellowed pages, searching, hunting. Every headline that mentioned the name that murdered her family made her grip the paper tighter.
Finally, one article stopped her cold:
“Warehouse Explosion Leaves Four Dead — Suspected Gang Feud.”The date matched the night her family was killed.
Her heart raced as she read further. Among the list of “persons of interest” was Kurokawa Eiji—Hayato’s father.
But what made her blood boil wasn’t just his name. It was the others listed beside it.
"Two more suspects. Names unfamiliar. Faces blurred in old police photos."
"So it wasn’t just him…"
For years, she’d focused her rage on a single target. But now, cracks appeared in the truth she thought she knew. Her family’s death wasn’t the work of one man—it was a conspiracy.
She slammed the paper shut, her hands trembling.
At that exact moment—
“Shiromi? What are you doing here?”
She froze. The voice came from the aisle behind her. She turned, and there was Hayato, holding a library book in his hands, blinking in surprise.
“You… what are you doing here?” she asked, sharper than intended.
Hayato smiled sheepishly. “History project. You?”
Her mind raced. She couldn’t let him know. Not yet.“…Same,” she lied, sliding the newspaper out of sight.
Hayato walked closer, placing his book on the desk. “You’re always alone. I thought maybe… we could study together sometime.”
His tone was so casual, so kind. And yet, all she could hear was the echo of the headline in her mind: "Kurokawa Eiji".
Hayato’s father.The man tied to her family’s death.
And Hayato himself—the boy now standing inches from her, smiling like they were friends. And not knowing his father's deeds.
Shiromi’s fists tightened under the table.
Thoughts in her heart questioning and struggling hard: "Why it has to be your father? What should I do? Why did you born in that name!"
She flipped through the yellowed pages, searching, hunting. Every headline that mentioned the name that murdered her family made her grip the paper tighter.
Finally, one article stopped her cold:
“Warehouse Explosion Leaves Four Dead — Suspected Gang Feud.”The date matched the night her family was killed.
Her heart raced as she read further. Among the list of “persons of interest” was Kurokawa Eiji—Hayato’s father.
But what made her blood boil wasn’t just his name. It was the others listed beside it.
"Two more suspects. Names unfamiliar. Faces blurred in old police photos."
"So it wasn’t just him…"
For years, she’d focused her rage on a single target. But now, cracks appeared in the truth she thought she knew. Her family’s death wasn’t the work of one man—it was a conspiracy.
She slammed the paper shut, her hands trembling.
At that exact moment—
“Shiromi? What are you doing here?”
She froze. The voice came from the aisle behind her. She turned, and there was Hayato, holding a library book in his hands, blinking in surprise.
“You… what are you doing here?” she asked, sharper than intended.
Hayato smiled sheepishly. “History project. You?”
Her mind raced. She couldn’t let him know. Not yet.“…Same,” she lied, sliding the newspaper out of sight.
Hayato walked closer, placing his book on the desk. “You’re always alone. I thought maybe… we could study together sometime.”
His tone was so casual, so kind. And yet, all she could hear was the echo of the headline in her mind: "Kurokawa Eiji".
Hayato’s father.The man tied to her family’s death.
And Hayato himself—the boy now standing inches from her, smiling like they were friends. And not knowing his father's deeds.
Shiromi’s fists tightened under the table.
Thoughts in her heart questioning and struggling hard: "Why it has to be your father? What should I do? Why did you born in that name!"
"Shiromi are you alright? You don't look so good." Concerned by Hayato when he saw Shiromi's expression changed suddenly.
"I'm fine, thanks for your concern." After replying to Hayato, she stands up and ran out of the library leaving Hayato there without saying another word nor looked back either.
"Why...his is your father?"
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