CLOSURE!

Care to explain!

Well even if I could, where do I start at.

"Uhm...Is it necessary?"

Yuki-nee didn't even budge a little.

Well, well, well. I am truly screwed.

"Alright, this might take a while."

"I'm done for the day, so I'm all ears."

Is that so? That works for me.

But I guess one person had other ideas.

"Yukiko-chan, will you let me enjoy my date?"

Her mother intervened.

"Dragging him like a pet, and holding onto him, I wouldn't consider that a date."

Yuki-nee remarked.

"Don't bother about the trivial stuff, it's fine."

"Is it? What are you guys doing here?"

"Shopping!"

I answered.

"I can see that. Don't act dumb."

She not holding back any punches.

"We're buying some ingredients for lunch. Nao's staying over till then."

She turned towards me.

"You're staying alone with a mature woman, is that right?"

"Not proud of it."

"She came over to thank us for what your dad did and also to sever ties with me since I'm the only one left."

Rinko-san said it so effortlessly.

Yukiko couldn't believe what she heard.

"Even my mom?"

"Well, yes. Why wouldn't I?"

"Why go so far?"

"Can't and won't explain."

"This is just absurd."

"Sorry for being insensitive. I can't play two-face and just pile up more trouble."

"Then why the lunch? And why go shopping with her?"

"Beef stew and Fried Steak."

She had her eureka moment.

"Agh! Makes sense. Guess you're still an idiot in that sense."

Hey, don't say that. It's because your mom is such an exceptional cook that I've been spoilt. That's my childhood right there.

Well, beef stew and fried steak. I would prefer to say roasted steak or whatever the right term is, but I'm too lazy to do that. Energy conservant's basic rule. It doesn't have to make sense to everyone as long as it makes sense to the user.

"I was on the verge of hating it because she would always cook that dish for you."

She remarked.

"Oh! Really, my bad."

I replied with an apologetic face, I guess?

Well, for people wondering what's the need to just cut ties with them and stuff, why acting like a pussy, well, I can't blame you. They are good people, and some would even sacrifice a lot to just get this kind of life. But sadly, for me, I can't have them, that's how it is.

There will always be something that you have to deny in life, searching for something, even though that stuff is priceless in value.

But on the contrary, the value of something depends on the appraiser, or in simple words, the eye of the person in question.

Life's not kind. That's a simple truth.

Source: Me.

The vision in front of me, a beautiful girl who had dedicated more than a part of my life for me, and then her doting and loving mother, who never held any bias and would love me equally as much as her own daughter.

In an alternate reality, I wouldn't have had to run away from anything. These people right here would have been my wife and mother-in-law. Often I think that a me in a parallel universe is enjoying something that I have been denied in this universe, and console myself. It's pitiful and remorseful, but better than pondering on what if's and getting detached from reality, and then crying out on where did it all go wrong.

It's an inescapable truth.

I can never love anyone, and I never must.

I regained my senses and returned to the real world.

"All in all, this is the end!"

I exclaimed.

Neither of them responded.

Good.

That being said, I was sure it would last for a short period of time.

Rinko-san responded.

"You're saying that but won't you need to come back to us again?"

She questioned me.

"And that being said, according to the turn of events, don't you think you're forced to follow someone's intentions?"

I was quiet for a moment.

Rinko-san felt like she was on the verge of discovering something.

"Nao, could it be that you're actually sparing us from going through what happened all those years ago? Are you trying to protect us?"

She looked at me worryingly.

I think she's got some idea.

But it should be the wrong one.

There was some huge commotion in the background.

I pretended not to hear it.

"Huh? What? I couldn't hear you. Did you just say something?"

She was going to repeat it, but paused for a moment and didn't follow up.

She just nodded her head, and that was a sign that meant 'Nothing'.

She knew that it was pointless to proceed any further and that I wouldn't even budge a bit.

Rinko-san went ahead of us to go grab something. I think she needs some space to herself. The only concern was I didn't want everyone to know her psychotic side, so I thought I needed to keep an eye out on her. But that was quite an ordeal, as there was an uncomfortable atmosphere around me, and the source of it was Yukiko Haruno. It looked like something struck her as she replayed her mother's words inside her head. Sometimes I do wonder if Rinko-san just drops by hints for us to connect the dots, and I am thereby, always wary of her.

I knew one thing for sure. Call it a hunch. But, Rinko-san's love was just a facade and in reality, I feel that there's something that's hidden behind this. Is it regret? Or is it repentance for some sin? Is it guilt? I don't know. She does adore me, that's not a lie. And she doesn't want to lose me, that is the truth. So, is she doing this to provoke Yuki-nee? Is this her way of telling 'You better get serious, or ill have to take matters into my own hands? That's maybe one of the reasons why I don't worry much about Rinko-san. Though I kinda feel sorry for her, to be putting in this tough act and hurting herself.

Anyway, I had to first clear out this uneasiness between us.

"Yuk...Harumi-senpai!"

Dodged a bullet.

"Huh?"

She was suddenly caught off-guard. I guess it's foolish to think that she would get used to this reference in such a short amount of time. I must tread carefully.

"Do you love your boyfriend? Are you in a happy place now?"

That might be s a strange question to ask from my end. But I do have my reasons.

She was lost for a moment and took some time to realize that I had actually asked that question and it was not a hallucination.

"Huh? Wa...Wait a minute. Why are you asking that out of nowhere."

Well, why certainly indeed? It's easy to ask, but sadly I won't be sharing anything.

"That's not what I asked for."

I was firm in my approach.

"I mean it's just too sudden."

Sigh! This will take forever. I need to change the approach.

"If I said that I wanted you, would you sever the ties with the man you're in a relationship with now? Or would you still choose him over me?"

"I'm serious about this."

I had no intention of holding back, as this is a crucial piece of this puzzle.

She was quiet for some time. She was seriously thinking about this. This was expected. Yuki-nee never stopped caring about me, even if she tells that she doesn't love me anymore, or the fact that she's in a relationship now. Though the fact that she's changed into something of a slut or whoreish character, that had an ulterior motive. And that was to make me regret. Regret the fact that I'm the reason she's in this state. Regret for breaking her family apart, but more importantly, regret for abandoning her, after she loved me so much.

But I'm an uncommon existence. I wouldn't consider myself a human. Why? It's because I reject all the common notions and traits that classify one as a human. I don't think there's much worth in digging deeper. It'll just be a recap of whatever I've been saying all this while, and I'm tired of going through it again. Right now, I'm just focused on getting my answer.

I looked at her. Our eyes met. And they were locked, refusing to look away. We both knew, that there was no beating around the bush, or answering something vague and keeping it open.

"Why are you so keen? I think I deserve to know that at least."

"First come first serve."

I replied with a cold stare.

She knew it was pointless to continue any further.

"I'm happy as the person I am now, and my boyfriend is a major part of it. Even if you ask me out, I'll reject you straight away, without hesitation. Just so you know, the feelings mutual. Even..."

"I HATE YOU"

She had made her point loud and clear. That was good enough for me.

"I guess we don't have anything that will bring us back together then."

I followed.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, it was just a 'what if?' kind of question. Don't bother about it."

She didn't have any of it.

"You just asked me such a serious question, and this is what I get?"

I think that was a sensible argument. Let's just get this done with.

"I just wanted to make sure there's no turning back from here. This is a bridge that is to be burnt. So I wanted to make that neither one of us would turn back from here."

I phrased it as vague as ever. But in the simple sense, what I was trying to say was, we can't go back from here.

But I didn't have to worry about the explaining part. As this was Yuki-nee. But even she surprises me sometimes. Like for instance...;

"That being said, there's one undeniable truth Nao!"

"What's that?"

She looked around the surroundings. Since we were at the corner section of the supermarket, and there was some commotion going on, no one was here, except us both. Taking that into consideration, she grabbed hold of my jacket and pulled me close, and hugged me tight, and also, with care. I was quite upset with myself, as I thought this would be lead to a kiss. I have been spoilt lately. But still, I must be in control. I cannot let myself get carried away. And while I was at it, I could feel the grip get tighter, and ...

"I LOVE YOU!"

"I ALWAYS DID AND I ALWAYS WILL."

"THAT'S WHY...

TAKE ME AWAY!"