Another Day in Tateyama

“Do you really not want a sister, Yuuya?”

I rolled my eyes at my friend Tsutomu. He had been repeating that same question since eight in the morning.

“I don’t want a sibling. It’s annoying.”

“Don’t act like you know what it’s like already, dude. Such a pessimist.” Tsutomu shrugged. “You have to believe in your cards! The last draw of fate!”

“Last draw of fate, my ass.” I readjusted my glasses. Tsutomu was born loving this Yu-gi trading card game and always went around yelling catchphrases from the anime.

“Hey, trust me, having a sibling isn’t that bad. Your dad’s remarriage isn’t going to suck either. I know you don’t want another woman to replace your mom, but your dad is already trying to move on, and maybe you should consider it too. Just saying.” He grabbed my shoulders. “When is the wedding, anyway?”

“It’s not a formal wedding and all that shit. They’re just going to sign some papers and hold a small party with some of their close friends. You’re invited too. Didn’t I give you the damn card?”

“It’s right here in my bag! Draw!” He pulled the invitation from his pocket with an exaggerated gesture. He was a good friend of mine, but sometimes, I really want to smack some sense into him.

The thing was, my dad, Kazakiri Daiya, was getting remarried to a woman called Yakou Kaname, whom I’ve never met. She had a child from one of her previous marriages. The child’s name is Yakou Akame, whom I’ve never met either. My dad never told me his reasons for getting remarried, no matter how many times I asked.

The chime signaled the end of the school day. I grabbed my bike and pedaled home.

Tateyama was a small seaside town. Although it’s far from other big cities, compared to the surrounding little towns, it was a bit more developed. It usually took around three to four hours to get here from Tokyo by train. It had some attractions here and there, but for those living here, the Aeo Shopping Mall was our favorite stop because there were no others.

Most of the residents were old people who loved to hike a few kilometers up a mountain to see the sakura blossoms. We youngsters count the day we would get to leave the town and find a job somewhere else.

The town’s schools were located far from the sea, so even if this is a seaside town, I didn’t usually visit the beaches on my way back home. My house was about ten minutes from my high school by bike. It was an ordinary house with no fence, because there was no need for one.

When I got home, I went inside. The house was empty as usual. My dad rarely came home before ten. I made my way to the living room and went to my mom's portrait.

“...I’m home, mom.”

Kazakiri Kuuga, my beloved mother. She might act like an elementary school boy sometimes, but she took really good care of me. She loved her strange name, and I loved her cheerful smile.

But she left us, forever.

She had short brown hair, neatly trimmed, and pale-colored eyes. Her youthful smile was forever frozen within the picture.

I touched the frame gently, before getting up and heading to my own room.

It was ten thirty when dad’s small car rolled into the parking lot. The engine went quiet, and I could hear him entering the house. I exited my room and saw him as he locked the front door.

“Welcome home.” I said dryly.

“Hey, Yuuya. How’s school?” He asked with a forced smile.

“Same as always. Anyway, I’m going to bed now.”

“Sweet dreams… Yuu-chan.”

He whispered the last two syllables. I closed my bedroom door and plopped onto the bed.

After mom’s death, my relationship with dad had been deteriorating. It got worse after he announced his remarriage.

I couldn’t sleep, so I went down to grab some snacks. I walked past the living room to get to the kitchen, and heard dad’s voice.

“...Do you think you can forgive me?”

I stopped in my tracks and listened.

“I swear you’ll always be my one and only, but… Yuuya…if I leave things with Yuu-chan the way they are, some day, he might awaken and lose control of himself. I can’t let that happen…”

Suddenly, his entire figure stiffened. He turned his head around.

“...Kuuga?” Dad widened his eyes before blinking rapidly. “Oh, Yuuya? You surprised me there. Are you in stealth mode or something?”

“Were you talking about me?” I furrowed my brows.

“Go to bed, or you’ll get circles under your eyes.” He patted my shoulders twice and left the room. I followed him with my gaze until he went upstairs, then I turned to mom’s framed picture.

“Oh, Yuuya, one thing.” Dad came back down the stairs. “Tomorrow, I’m bringing Kaname and Akame-chan over. Don’t make a mess in the house.”

I froze.