Chapter 64: The Pink Teddy Bear

I am running.

I am not going home.

I am running to the bus stop.

I am on a bus.

I am standing in front of his run-down apartment.

If he withdrew, he had to come here first. To pack.

I am going to get answers. Even if I have to punch them out of him.

I stomp up the stairs.

I bang on the door. The peeling door.

"FUJI! I KNOW YOU'RE IN THERE! OPEN UP! YOU COWARD!"

Nothing.

Just silence.

"I'M NOT KIDDING, FUJIJERK! OPEN THIS DOOR OR I WILL KICK IT DOWN!"

Nothing.

A neighbor sticks her head out. "He's not home, sweetie! A big car came for him Saturday night! And then movers came yesterday. Cleaned the whole place out!"

Movers?

My stomach drops to my feet.

"He... moved out?"

"Yep! Quiet boy. Always so polite. Shame." She shuts her door.

He moved out.

He really is gone.

It wasn't a joke. He withdrew from school. He left his apartment.

He erased himself.

My eyes sting. No. I am NOT crying. I am ANGRY.

I jiggle the doorknob.

It is unlocked.

He... what? He left it unlocked.

I push the door open.

"Fuji...?" I whisper.

The apartment is empty.

I mean ECHO empty.

The bookshelf is gone. The old sofa is gone. The TV is gone.

The kitchen... the penguin apron... gone.

He didn't just move. He vanished. In one day. Who does that?

My heart hurts. This is stupid. Feelings are stupid.

I am so stupid. I fell for it. He played me.

I am turning to leave.

And I see it.

In the middle of the empty living room.

Sitting perfectly in the center of the floor.

Is one thing.

The giant, pink, stupid teddy bear that Hiroto brought.

What the hell.

He took everything. The sofa. The forks. But he left the bear.

I walk over to it.

There is a note. Pinned to its chest. With a fancy gold pin.

My hands are shaking. I pull it off.

It is his handwriting. Perfect. Neat. Infuriating.

"Aoi,"

It starts with Aoi. My heart does that dumb thing.

"I am sorry. For this. It was not a lie. You are not a lie. My father called. My vacation is over. I had to leave. I didn't have a choice. I will explain when I can. I promise. Please... don't believe what you see on the news. It is not the whole story. I will find a way back to you. Even if I have to start a war. Wait for me."

Wait for me.

My knees feel weak.

I read the note again.

"Don't believe the news."

What news?

I look at the note. There is a P.S. on the back.

"P.S. - His name is General Fluff. Please take care of him. He is your fault, after all."

I look at the note. I look at the giant, pink bear.

I am not crying. I am NOT.

I am so confused.

And I have to carry this bear home on the bus.

I hate him so much.