A Passion from the Past

Mio still seemed confused.

The heavy silence in the room made that clear.

She looked from one face to another, not understanding why a simple name had caused such an absurd impact.

My mother was the first to break the silence.

"How did you meet Nagomi ?" he asked. Ayane , now with a more serious tone than an accusatory one.

Mio took a deep breath.

"I met Mrs. Nakahara three years ago... I was shopping at the market," she began .

She spoke calmly, as if she were recalling an old memory.

"I was in line to pay, and she was in front of me. When she finished, I noticed she was having trouble carrying the bags," Mio continued.

My mother's eyes widened slightly.

"She tried to cover it up, saying she was feeling light. But I asked the clerk to hold my groceries and said I would help her first," Mio continued .

(She did that…? Without knowing who Nagomi was.) — I thought, surprised.

"We left the market together," Mio said.

"She had six bags. I took four to carry," she continued counting.

I swallowed hard.

(If that's true... She really is amazing.) — I thought, impressed.

"As we were walking, she started asking me about myself. About my dreams. I said I wanted to be a model," Mio continued .

Mio paused briefly.

"Then she told me I should try theater. That learning to act would help me, even if that wasn't my dream," Mio said.

"And you asked why," my mother added, almost in a whisper.

Mio nodded.

"She smiled and said that, in the future, I would understand," Mio revealed .

My chest tightened.

— After that, she gave me a card. It was from a place called Corp. Divine Performance. — Mio continued .

My mother took a deep breath.

"This is the company she founded," Ayane explained.

"As a result of an impeccable career. She used to recruit talent and also teach classes to new actors," my mother revealed .

Mio's eyes widened.

"That company... was it hers?" Mio asked .

"It was," my mother confirmed.

Mio put her hand to her chest.

"She never told me that..." she said, surprised.

"When I got there, I found out she was going to be my teacher. I was in shock," Mio continued , telling the story .

She smiled, but there was sadness in her smile.

"I loved the classes. She said she'd love to see me acting in a play someday. But I always replied that my real dream was to be a model," Mio revealed, emotionally.

Her gaze fell.

"I'm still sad to this day... knowing about her death," he said softly.

Silence returned.

My mother closed her eyes for a moment.

"We all stayed. But we need to learn to move on," he said . Ayane , honestly.

I couldn't say anything.

That was no coincidence.

It was something bigger.

And before I could organize my thoughts…

Ding-dong .

The doorbell rang.

My heart skipped a beat.

(They arrived.) — I thought.

It could only mean one thing.

Midorikawa Hana and her daughter had just arrived.

Akane went to the door and opened it.

Outside were Midorikawa Hana and her daughter.

The instant the girl entered my field of vision…

…my body froze.

Our eyes met for a second that was far too long.

Something was wrong.

No, something felt familiar.

(Wait a minute… That girl…) — I started thinking, shocked.

My heart skipped a beat.

(It's her. Sakura . Sakura from elementary school.) — I thought.

The first girl I confessed my feelings to.

The first one who rejected me.

(She said she couldn't stay with me... And she ran away.) — I thought sadly.

I always knew her last name.

Midorikawa .

But I never imagined…

Hirotsu 's granddaughter …) — I thought, as if I'd made a mistake in an essay.

I took a deep breath.

(I have to act naturally.) — I tried to calm myself down.

Hana and Sakura entered.

My mother was the first to speak.

Hirotsu 's granddaughter . He and Hana always compliment you when they talk to me," Ayane said politely.

Sakura smiled.

A smile that's too perfect.

"The pleasure is mine," she replied. "Meeting such a talented woman on the movie screen and on the theater stage is an honor."

Sakura and my mother greeted each other.

Sakura then greeted my father.

And then…

It came towards us.

Her gaze first fell on me.

Then… in Mio.

"Who are you?" he asked. Sakura , with a curiosity that was too quiet.

Mio swallowed hard, but replied firmly.

— I'm Kurokawa Mio. Riku 's girlfriend .

The air seemed to grow heavier.

Hana's eyes widened.

Sakura too, but only for a moment.

Then she smiled again.

— I understand. It's a pleasure to meet you. — he said . Sakura is now looking at me.

"I say the same," Mio replied politely.

Hana took a deep breath.

"Daughter, I'm going now. I'll come back to pick you up later," she said . Hana .

My mother immediately intervened.

" Hana , at least wait until dinner. Shin and I also want to go see Hirotsu afterward," he said . Ayane .

"That's right," Hana agreed .

We all went to the dining room.

Akane and Himari began serving the dishes.

Dinner has begun.

( Kanzaki is tense.) — I thought as I looked at her.

Stiff shoulders.

The calculated movements.

The overly careful way of holding the cutlery.

I pretended not to notice and looked at Himari .

She understood immediately.

"Miss Kurokawa . If you need anything, just let me know," said Himari , approaching.

Mio smiled, relieved.

Thank you for your concern.

Sakura watched.

Not in an obvious way.

But he was watching.

The way Mio sits.

The way he ate.

Excessive caution.

The dinner ended without incident.

No shouting.

No accusations.

But... it wasn't easy.

" Sakura , do you want to go now or would you prefer to stay and talk with Riku ?" he said . Hana .

The response came quickly.

"I'll stay," he replied . Sakura .

My heart sank.

"Okay. I'll come back to pick you up later," he said . Hana .

My mother stood up.

— Akane , Himari … if anything happens, call immediately. — she ordered. Ayane .

"That's right," they both replied together.

Shortly after, my mother, my father, and Hana left for the hospital where Hirotsu was hospitalized.

The door closed.

And silence fell over the house.

In the room, only the following remain:

I.

Meo.

Sakura .

And the maids, Yukino , watching everything from afar.

(Damn... This just got a lot worse.) — I thought fearfully, wondering what might happen now.

Sakura sat down calmly, crossing her legs.

The smile was still on his face.

"It's been a while, Riku ," she said, as if we were simply resuming an interrupted conversation.

My stomach churned.

(She remembers. Of course she remembers.) — I thought.

Mio glanced at me sideways, confused.

And at that moment, I knew:

The lie had survived dinner.

But now… I was alone with someone who knew my past.