Starting Over from Scratch!

Inside the ward, father and son’s conversation was more intense than ever.

“ What exactly did you come here for, father?” If you want me to apologize for what happened at Sasaki’s house, I’ll gladly apologize.”

“ Just say the word and I’ll execute myself as always.” I won’t go against you, or ask for any explanations either.”

Before Tatsuki Fujimiya showed up at the hospital a couple of hours earlier, he was on a phone call with Thomas Albertini.

“ How is Ryuji doing now?” I bet he’s at home by now, right?”

“ Master, the young master is at the hospital.”

“ What?” At the hospital?”

“ Master, excuse what I’m about to say, but the only person to blame for the young master’s condition is you alone.”

“ I warned you about his condition beforehand but you wouldn’t listen to me.” You thought he was faking it, didn’t you?”

“ You were never present at any of his important moments.” Instead of all the pricey gifts you sent him, the young master only needed one thing in his life and that was you.” That’s all he ever wanted and nothing else.”

“ Master, it isn’t too late to make things right with the young master.”

“ What hospital are you both at?” I’ll come straight away.”

“ We’re at the General Hospital.”

“ I’m on my way.”

Several hours later into the present at the General Hospital, Tatsuki was looking apologetically at a sobbing Ryuji looking for the right words.

“ I’ve waited for you my entire life but you never came to me, not even once.” As I kept waiting and waiting for you, I realized that you would never look my way and accepted it.”

“ As time went on, executing your orders and being a good son became my new motive.” Not failing any of your expectations replaced the love I’ve been lacking throughout my life.”

“ I did my best to play the role of the obedient and perfect son but in the end, I couldn’t accomplish even that.” I’m a true disappointment to you, aren’t I?”

As Ryuji kept talking, Tatsuki couldn’t take it anymore. The remorse he felt was just too much to take in.

“ Sorry!” I’m sorry!”

?

“ I was wrong all those years ago. I didn’t do things as they should have been done.” I shouldn’t have neglected you as I did. I should have been there for you instead of pushing you away.”

“ I feel ashamed for whatever it is that I put you through.” You became distrustful of others and your light slowly disappeared, giving place to the darkness in your heart.”

“ You were not allowed to play with other kids because you were forbidden to by me.” I’ve put so many restrictions on you and yet, you never blamed me for anything.”

“ You took it upon yourself to be a good son and not disappoint me in any way.” I was wrong all those years ago. Please, forgive me for my actions.”

“ Without realizing it, I’ve made you a puppet incapable of thinking by himself.” I’ve done something terrible and I regret it so much.”

“ Please, forgive me, son!” Let’s start over from scratch!”

Ryuji’s eyes teared even more than before. What he wanted to hear all those years ago was finally coming out of his father’s mouth and it wasn’t a dream; it wasn’t a bitter reality that he would have to accept. It was real, the real thing and he still couldn’t believe it.

“ Please, give me another chance!” More than your father, I want to be your friend, someone you can count on.”

All the sleepless nights he spent, wondering why his father wouldn’t give him the time of day, all those days and weeks he spent waiting for his father to get home from work would finally come to an end and he didn’t know how to take it.

His father was there proposing to restart their relationship from scratch and he didn’t know if he wanted to or not. After all, all those years ago, he lived to accept the bitter truth that he would never have a father, that now, he wasn’t ready to have one.

“ I know I don’t deserve it after everything I’ve done, but please, give me another chance to rectify my mistakes.”

“ Father, when I needed you the most, you weren’t there.” I’m afraid that now is way too late to make your reappearance in my life.”

“ I’ve already accepted your indifference and that you would never be a father to me.” I’ve learned to live with it and for that to suddenly change as if it was nothing is—----- hard.”

“ I need time to think things over.”

Mr. Fujimiya was slightly disappointed as he didn’t receive the response he was expecting but he also understood that what he was asking his son wasn’t easy at all.

“ I understand.” What I’m asking is not easy! Take all the time you need.”

(Why isn’t Sakamoto-San back with my food yet? Is it because dad’s here?)

“ I bet you’re hungry, young master.” Here’s your food!”

Thomas Albertini entered the ward with Ryuji’s food. He looked around for Josiane, which he didn’t see with him anywhere.

“ Isn’t Sakamoto-San with you?”

“ She had something to do back home, so she had to leave.”

“ I see!”

A few minutes ago, outside of the ward—-----------------

“ Take this to Ryuji for me.” I would have taken it to him myself but I don’t think Fujimiya-San will be pleased to see me.”

“ Shouldn’t you at least bid goodbye to him before you go?”

“ It’s okay.” I bet they’re talking things out right as we speak. Seeing me now might complicate things.”

“ I don’t wish for him to be unhappy again and that is why I think it would be best if I don’t go inside at this moment.”

“ I understand.” In that case, let me at least drop you home.”

“ That’s okay! Ryuji will go hungry if you take me home first.” Don’t worry about me! I’ll be fine; I can take a taxi home and nothing will happen.”

“ I’ll come by early tomorrow to see him.” I’ll take my leave now.”

“ Be careful on your way back!”

“ I will!”

Back to the present, with Tatsuki and Ryuji inside the ward.

“ I bet you’ll be staying with the young master tonight, right master?”

“ If Ryuji wants me to, then I’ll stay.”

“ Would you want me to stay the night at the hospital?”

“ It would be inconvenient for you and also, there isn’t any place for you to sleep.”

There was a sofa in the room that he could sleep on but Ryuji knew he’d feel uncomfortable sleeping there. Tatsuki smiled at Ryuji and said, “ I can sleep on the sofa over there, so, may I stay the night?”

“ You can stay if you want; You don’t have to ask me.” Do whatever pleases you?”

“ Then, I’ll stay the night with you, son.”

Ryuji’s tone, although a bit cold, had nonetheless some kind of love accompanying it.

“ I’ll excuse myself.” Have a pleasant night, both of you!”

Ryuji ate the food Josiane bought him while his father watched him eat delightfully. After a while, as he finished eating, he started getting sleepy.

“ Good night, father!”

“ Good night, son!”

Ryuji laid down and several seconds later, he fell soundly asleep. Tatsuki covered him with a blanket. A few minutes later, he also went to sleep.

In the middle of the night, Ryuji woke up and covered his dad who was sleeping on the sofa with one of his blankets.

In the morning, at around 6:45 a.m.---------------------

(How did this blanket come on me?)

(Did Ryuji cover me as I was sleeping?)

The nurse got in just at that time to check up on Ryuji’s state. Tatsuki Fujimiya thought of asking the nurse who might have covered him while he was sleeping.

“ Were you the one who covered me with the blanket?”

“ No, sir! It wasn’t me.” It might have been your son, the one who covered you. Please, excuse me!”

“Excuse me!”

“ Yes!”

“ May I have a pen and paper?”

Before leaving the room, Tatsuki thought of leaving a note for his son which he did. He left the note by his bedside and stepped out of the room.

On his way from the exit, he ran into Josiane once again. The atmosphere was awkward between the two.

“ Good morning, Fujimiya-San!”

“ Good morning!”

Josiane didn’t expect Tatsuki Fujimiya to greet her back after the unpleasant encounter they had the day before. She was eagerly surprised by that action.

(Ryuji is still sleeping, I see!)

Josiane touched his forehead to check his temperature and the fever was all gone. She felt relieved and as she was about to take off her hand, she felt a grip.

Ryuji gripped her hand firmly and wouldn’t let go. Josiane sits by his side and watches his sleeping face.

“ He sure has a cute face.”

Ryuji woke up at the sound of that, startling Josiane in the process.

“ This happens to be the second time that you refer to me as cute.”

“ Ryuji?” How long have you been awake?”

“ I woke up when I heard you say that I had a cute face.” Good morning-Sakamoto-San!”

“ Good morning, Ryuji!”