Among the porcelain, among some talk of you and me

Privacy gates parted, and the Century pulled into the driveway of the palatial estate. Security detail was already waiting for him. He’d rushed over so quickly, he’d forgotten to change. Bloodstains were now caked on his shirt, and his face was swollen into a purplish, bloated mass. His jaw wasn’t broken, but he could feel that one tooth was gone and another was going to be gone. Still, he did his best to get security’s approval and rush inside the massive house.

Another guard opened the door and escorted him in. Somber, frightened judgment hung in the air as he was led through the foyer and into the formal living room. When Shuhei saw Kaho, he let out an audible whimper. A woman sitting beside Kaho let out a gasp of shock as she looked upon Shuhei, which caused Kaho to finally raise her head.

A frightening, muted scream of heartbreak came out unrefined and uncontrolled.

She stood immediately and rushed to Shuhei, who was still processing her mutilated hair and slightly cut face. He didn’t even notice the bandage on her arm at first.

Tears ran down both their faces. Kaho started to sign without thinking. All of her body was shaking. Shuhei started to retrieve his phone, then changed his mind and simply threw his arms around Kaho as he pressed his lips into her hair.

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry,” he cried.

Kaho’s father began to stand, but her mother subtly extended her hand to stop him.

Kaho raised her head and let her fingers softly caress his face.

“I’m okay. I’m. Okay. It’s. Done.” Shuhei slowly spoke as she wiped the tears from his eyes.

Kaho fumbled for her phone, but it wasn’t there. Shuhei retrieved his and realized it had dried blood on the screen, so he swiftly hid it. His notebook was still in his back pocket, as always.

“What happened?” he asked.

“Some random women attacked me by the school. They must have been mad about us, and about what the mayor was doing to host clubs. So they blamed me. They cut my hair. I did this to my arm to scare them away.”

Shuhei finally saw the wound, and he let out another gasp. His large hands enveloped her arm as he closed his eyes to stop the shame and tears.

“But you retired? Reiji let you leave?” Kaho wrote.

Shuhei nodded.

“He did this because of the mayor. I gave him basically everything I saved so that he’d let me go and never harm you or your family. I believe him. He’s a terrible person, but he holds true to his word.”

“All your money? What are you going to do?” Kaho sighed.

“I don’t care. I’ll figure something out. It’s over now. That’s all that matters.”

“I’m so sorry for what they did to you,” Shuhei added.

“You as well. Do you need to go to a hospital? We can take you.” Kaho offered.

Shuhei shook his head.

“I’ll go after this.”

Enough private time had passed, so Kaho’s father finally stood and cleared his throat. Shuhei softly tapped Kaho’s arm to alert her. They both faced him. Shuhei immediately got onto his knees and bowed in apology.

“I am so sorry, sir, and ma’am. I never meant for anything to happen to Kaho.”

“We live under the threat of attacks from insane individuals daily, boy. It is nothing we have not prepared for,” her father said in a neutral tone.

As he spoke, he signed so that they both could understand.

“But I trust you understand that this is the end of… this…” he said as he motioned at the two of them.

Kaho’s hand tensed on Shuhei’s before raising to sign her objection.

“But Papa, it’s over. He’s not a host anymore.”

“So now, insane young women will brand you as the harlot who stole their dear Shuhei from them. Just because he’s not a host anymore does not mean that you are safe. And even if so, what can this young man possibly do with himself that will make him the sort of partner that can provide for or look after you?”

Shuhei took Kaho’s hand and positioned himself so that she could read his lips.

“I still have over one hundred million yen left. I have a family home that I will sell or rent. I have a Century that I’m listing for sale tomorrow. I’ve invested. I’ll invest even more. In stable, safe options. I worked in finance on a yen carry trade account before becoming a host. I might never be wealthy again, but I will NEVER be poor again.”

Kaho softly gasped when he mentioned selling his beloved car. Shuhei looked from her parents to her and blinked his eyes clear.

“I’ll find a way. I’ll always provide for you. I’ll never let you suffer or be strained by the burden of poverty. I don’t know what that means yet, but I’ll figure it out. All I want is a simple, quiet life with you, far from this city. If you would have me, I would see that you smiled every day.”

Shuhei turned to her parents. Her father still shook his head in rejection, but his brow had softened. Her mother looked from Shuhei’s face to Kaho’s, but held her tongue.

“Papa, please. I am finally happy and feel alive. For the first time in years, I feel alive again,” Kaho signed.

He exhaled in frustration and slid his hands into his pocket. Silence hung in the air for several seconds as he debated his word choices.

When he finally inhaled and raised his hands to continue, Shuhei and Kaho both leaned forward.

“Now is not the time for this. All of this needs to blow over. For the foreseeable future, I forbid you two from seeing one another. I will not try to stop you from communicating, nor do I want to, to speak freely. But for the sake of my family, I must ask you to bow out for the moment, Shuhei. Give us time to speak, let this pass, let yourself find your new footing and path. Then, maybe there is a future for you two that I can endorse.”

Kaho began to cry as she nodded. It was simultaneously a relief and a dagger into her ribs. Imagining any moment without being near Shuhei felt like a sentencing, but she knew she had to stay strong to prove to her mother and father that this wasn’t a passing fancy or simple infatuation.

Shuhei was moving through the same processing. He was finally free, and all he wanted was to be with Kaho. But her father was correct. He needed to figure himself out first before roping her along in his struggles. It was now up to him to prove himself.

Nothing else was said, and Shuhei was soon escorted out. Kaho walked out with him and went down to say goodbye to the Century.

Polished chrome window trim glided beneath her fingers. Pearlescent black paint was still pristine, even after two decades. Curtains shielded the back seat from her view. It was perfectly Shuhei, and she mourned that it would soon be gone. He was giving up a part of his dream, just to build a new life. If he could do that and so much more, she had to make sure that she also did everything in her power to grow and nurture herself. It could take them weeks. It could take months. But if the other side of this battle meant she could finally freely be with him, then she would see it through.

They reached the driver’s side door, and Shuhei grimaced as he opened it.

Kaho still had his notebook.

“Please go to a hospital,” she wrote.

“I am,” he smiled.

Glistening tears welled in both their eyes as they held the other’s face for one more moment.

“I’ll. See. You. Again. I. Promise.” Shuhei said.

Kaho inhaled and nodded.

“Please don’t hurt yourself anymore. If you are ever afraid, or hurting, reach out to me immediately. I won’t hurt myself anymore, either,” Kaho wrote.

Shuhei nodded and kissed her forehead before leaning down to her. Their lips met for a last connection before the uncertainty of time pulled them apart. His hands closed hers over the notebook.

“I’ll be back to read everything you add,” he wrote.

Once his car was gone and the gate was closed, Kaho allowed herself to weep. Full, shattered, processing sobs shook her chest as the gentleness of the days before was gone. It would now be up to the two of them to rebuild that gentleness and peace on their own.