[ CH 2 | Pt 3 ] father, mother; and the END

10 YEARS EARLIER | KABUCHIKO

On a cold winter morning, a young girl should be snuggled up in bed with her parents.

*Huff* *Huff* *Huff*

But she was up bright and early, ready to grab a newspaper from the local vendor up the street, and begin searching.

*Huff* *Huff* *Huff*

Searching for hope that one day she may be able to enjoy such a reality.

“Daddy, Daddy! I found a new job for you to apply for…!” The young girl said joy.

That young girl was Minori Higuchi.

“Oh, honey…, it's too early! What did I tell you about stealing newspapers, we can afford that; at least!” Her mother responded from the kitchen of their small apartment as she made breakfast.

“But mommy, dad said I could go; and is it stealing if no one wants it anymore…!” She exclaimed, deflated from the response.

With a tender smile, her eyes slightly falling, the mother turned her gaze towards the bedroom on the right of the kitchen.

“Your father, huh?” Minori’s mother said to herself solemnly as her smile slowly dissipated.

That run down bedroom was where the majority of that man’s time was spent. Making call after call to whomever he knew from past jobs and industry professionals just to get the chance of an interview. When that didn't work, there were other solutions to the pain.

After two years of unemployment and working odd jobs here and there; the lack of stability was wearing on his face, his body, and soul.

“Aoi, Is dinner ready yet?! Don’t make me…what time is it again?” A confused and tired sound could be heard from the bedroom.

With a sudden jolt of worry, the mother rushed towards the bedroom. “Honey…it's Saturday..! Good morning…,” her voice faded out as she arrived at the door.

Minori, all smiles and without a hint of worry on her face, brought a step stool to the kitchen stove. Looking back at the bedroom again, she then reached for the pan to grab a roll of Tamagoyaki.

Lu-Lu-La-Ruuuu, Lala-Ruu,

Lu-Lu-La-Ruuuu, Lala-Ruu.

Suddenly, Minori’s genuine smile was forced to sober up. In the back of that humble but homely apartment, one could faintly hear the sobs of a tired soul.

“Mommy..?” She quietly called out in the air.

And yet, more prominently one could hear that lullaby:

Lu-Lu-La-Ruuuu, Lala-Ruu,

Lu-Lu-La-Ruuuu, Lala-Ruu.

It was hard to live in Shinjuku surviving off of odd jobs. Masaru Higuchi wanted a way out. For his wife, Aoi, the place didn’t matter. All she desired was for Masaru to be the man he wanted to be for the family. For their daughter, Minori, she just wanted to see her mother and father smile ‘for real’ again.

But this depressing episode continued for several months with no sign of end. It wore on the hope of their so called ‘desires’. All except for Minori, who had been the family’s bright spot amidst their tumultuous situation.

And then she fell ill.

“You're telling me there is nothing we can do for my daughter…you're kidding me, right? Doctor…?!” Masaru pleaded at the bedside of her daughter's hospital room alongside his wife and the cardiologist.

The difficult news was sobering in more ways than one.

“I'm so, so sorry. It's not your fault. This kind of disease, Kawasaki’s, can be challenging for children her age, and we still have no idea what causes it. It would be difficult for a parent to pick out from any general childhood illness,” the doctor rattled on information, his heart steeled as he looked down on his clipboard.

“But sir, I had the same issue as a child, and they were able to treat it just fine. What’s changed now?!” Aoi responded sharply.

“Y-yes.., however this illness can become fatal when the child is a supath. In these very rare instances, we have found such children to be unresponsive to regular treatment, and their condition to become rapidly unstable.” The doctor adjusted his glasses as he prepared to hand out his phoned-in hope.

“There is one procedure we can try, but it would be a bit risky. However, with our best doctors on board, you have a better chance here than anywhere else given your financial situation.” He stated matter-of-factly.

Masaru and Aoi look at each other with a spark of hope.

“ However, it will cost you...” After the doctor finished his spiel, a slight smile clocked underneath his beard as he turned towards the couple with his eyes settling upon just one.

He spoke.

“Tell me, [Redacted]?”

The clock ticking in the background made presence further known, only for a primal, exhausted guffaw petered out.

“N..no! Masaru, you shouldn’t…!” Aoi responded as he held the man back.

“Excuse me, doctor; how dare you…?! To think you would ask that in front of me; in front of my daughter…, I should kill you!”

“I thought those that referred you to this clinic made this particular information known to you, Ms. Higuchi…, I don’t have to allow you to be here, time is money.” The doctor continued as he tried to cover up his trifling disposition.

Ms. Higuchi?

“...And you have never been good with timing; timing, Ms. Higuchi…! It can save you a lot of turmoil…so I’ll ask again. [redacted]?!”

*tick-tock* *tick-tock*

“...You…, You destitute man…! Come on, now, Aoi…I can’t stand to listen to this…!” Masaru said again.

“Honey…Masaru…” Aoi called within her own thoughts, no longer facing the man.

A question mark dissipated into the air.

*tick-tock* *tick-tock*

[That was the last I remember of my mother. I would never hear her sing again.]

10 YEARS LATER | The Day of The Event

The party had become even more populated and claustrophobic. There Minori was lost in it all, closing in on her target. She had made her way upstairs to where the private family and associate rooms were.

It’d become increasingly clear that so-called brother ‘Liam’ was attempting something. Inviting Obari, having ‘important business’ to do with that man.

Since when did he decide to include his children in the business?

Whatever the case, she would find out right now. Liam was standing right there with that same taped-on smirk of a young man whose pride had been injured just hours before; or rather many times before.

“What, are you the bodyguard? What's going behind that door…?” Minori asked rudely.

“Ah-ahahh…! Do an act of obeisance to me and maybe I’ll budge. Maybe.”

Suddenly, she gestured to grab his collar, but stopped shortly after the slight cower in the young man's stance.

“Tch.” Liam sounded off.

“You always get what you want, don’t you…well be careful what you wish for. Good night.” With that Liam said his au revoir and left.

While watching him walk off, Minori slowly put her ear to the door to get a better capture of whatever was happening in the room.

“Anabelle, no I simply cannot.”

“Masaru, don’t be a coward. What is it you are afraid of now….that she will haunt you from across this Globe?”

Its father…and Liam’s mother.

“Not at all; In fact one could say I owe my life to her…you ought to be more respectful to that woman…”

Minori listened more intently. It is what was said next that would make her eyes open wide.

“… That woman called Aoi. If she wasn’t the wench she was I would’ve never come into this wealth…!”

*Thump*

“Minori, We’ve been waiting for you…I take it Liam brought you. He really is so obedient.” Masaru responded.

The door had opened wide, not from Minori resting on it, but from it being opened from the inside.

“You lying bastard!” Minori exclaimed, hiding her face from the man and holding back any kind of emotion. She became fearful of her own response.

It was a feeling completely alien to her present self.

“Poor daughter.” Anabelle stated pitifully before walking into another room, exiting the scene in a blasé fashion.

“It’s ok, Minori, I understand how you fe-”

“No! You don’t! You don’t understand what it's like….!” She tried to shout, but it would only come out cracked and monotone.

“My whole life, every waking moment since then… It was replaced with a question on the implication of those words…” Minori looked up defiantly.

“[Redacted], right?” Masaru responded nonchalantly while seeming to call someone on his phone.

[Do you truly wish to pass this off as your child?]

“And the answer was yes. You should be glad, no?” He answered.

“That question…It wasn’t for her…! It couldn’t have been.” Minori cried.

“Whether it was or wasn’t is relevant to your feelings.” Masaru walked towards the door and closed it, enclosing them in the room.

“Unfortunately for you, she had lived that lifestyle…and regretted it.” A somber smile rested on the man's face as he spoke.

“Even still…I have no idea whose child you are. No child of ours…in our circumstances would have ever been so…so happy.” Masaru began to pull something out of his jacket.

It was not a gun.

“When she died…you finally began to look like her. That's why I kept you around…It’ll be sad to see you go.”

*Cashat*