Chapter 40: Revelation

As I stood there, hidden among the crowd, my mind reeled with disbelief at Kazuha's words.

Brother? The realization hit me like a ton of bricks, sending a shiver down my spine.

Chiko, her brother? How could this be?

The tension in their conversation was palpable, Kazuha's anger simmering just beneath the surface.

I couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for her, knowing that she was facing a difficult situation with someone so close to her.

But Chiko's response was chilling, his voice laced with an unsettling calmness.

"Come on, Kazuha, don't be like that. We're family, after all," he said, his words dripping with a twisted sense of entitlement.

My fists clenched at my sides, a surge of protectiveness rising within me.

Kazuha needed someone to stand by her side, to shield her from the toxicity of her own brother.

I watched as Kazuha shook her head, her eyes flashing with defiance.

"Family? You lost that privilege a long time ago," she replied, her voice tinged with bitterness.

The exchange between them echoed in my mind, a stark reminder of the complexities of family dynamics and the scars they can leave behind.

But before I could intervene, Kazuha turned on her heel and walked away, leaving Chiko standing there, his expression unreadable.

I watched her retreating figure, my heart heavy with concern.

Kazuha surely had lots of secrets inside her heart.

I was still hiding in the crowd.

Luckily , they didn't notice me.

"Oh , come on, sis!!" Chiko said with an annoyed tone, running up to her and grabbing her hand.

I wanted to stop him but my mind told me to wait.

After getting her hand grabbed, Kazuha turned her head towards Chiko and gave him a very deadly glare.

"Chiko… leave my hand, you disgusting piece of shit." She said with a cold but aggressive tone.

Chiko immediately followed her order and left her hand.

"I'm sorry, sis… but why are you so angry with me? I'm doing everything for you…" He said.

"For you…? What does he mean?" I thought.

I got closer to them.

"For me? Do you even know what you're doing, Chiko? Fumihiro has nothing to do with that." Kazuha said.

She was getting more and more irritated.

"Eh? But you know how much that girl made you suffer… it's time to get revenge… think about it: they break up and you'll get him all for you. Isn't this a great idea?" Chiko said.

My heart actually froze from anger.

I couldn't believe my ears.

"All of this was a plan of Kazuha…? But for what reason?! Wasn't she supposed to be a friend of mine?" I thought.

I really couldn't trust anyone.

"and what does he mean with the word 'revenge' ?!?" My mind was full of questions.

"Revenge? Chiko, I already had my revenge. I've learned to smile and to live by myself. I don't want for Fumihiro to suffer. He will understand… and he will remember me. But you just ruined everything, like always." Kazuha sighed in anger and clenched her fists.

It seemed that she really hated her brother.

"Sis… come on! Don't hate me! I'm doing all of this for you!!" He said with a very annoyed tone.

"… Fuck off." Kazuha said, before turning around and walking rapidly.

Two words expressing more than one thousand.

"You're nothing more than a disgusting piece of trash." Kazuha said to him while turning around for a second.

Chiko remained speechless, not knowing what else to say, but I could that judging from his expression , he was very angry and irritated because of Kazuha.

He then started to walk in the opposite direction, kicking away a small can of soda that was on the ground.

"Fuck this life." He said, while walking away.

I saw Kazuha's figure becoming smaller in the distance.

She was very nervous.

For some strange reasons, my mind told me to follow her to see where she was going.

I forgot to buy groceries.

I saw Kazuha walking very rapidly and i started following her.

Well, it wasn't the best thing to do, but i was really worried about seeing her arguing with Chiko.

As I trailed behind Kazuha, her hurried steps were echoing against the pavement, I couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that gripped me.

Her tense demeanor and the intensity of her exchange with Chiko lingered in my mind, leaving me with more questions than answers.

The streets of Tokyo were crowded , but for some reason, it felt like me and Kazuha were totally alone.

She navigated through the bustling crowds with purpose, her destination unknown to me but it seemed that she was in hurry.

I kept my distance, careful not to draw attention to myself as I followed her through the labyrinth of alleyways and side streets.

Despite my concerns, a part of me felt drawn to her, compelled to ensure she was safe after the confrontation with her brother.

Finally, Kazuha came to a stop outside a nondescript building, its facade worn and weathered by time.

She glanced around, as if checking for any unwanted observers, before disappearing inside.

Curiosity came to bother my mind.

"No… this is too much… I look like a stalker." I said to my self.

I hesitated for a moment before cautiously approaching the entrance.

"But, i need answers." So, I took a deep breath and tried to enter.

As I reached the door, I paused, deliberating whether to follow Kazuha inside or respect her privacy.

"I'm so sorry, Kazuha." I whispered.

I noticed that the door was slightly open.

Maybe Kazuha left like this because she wanted to leave soon.

Then, from inside , i heard strange voices.

"Oh… Kazuha… you came for me, don't you?" A male voice said, but it sounded very old.

"Yes. Let's make this quick, please. Remove your shirt." This time i heard Kazuha.

My eyes widened in shock.

"T-Thank you, Kazuha-Chan…" the elder voice said.

His tone was very strange.

It sounded like someone who was waiting for some kind of "services".

"Oh my… is she… a prostitute?" I thought.

I couldn't believe it.

"Stay still, sir. I will be done soon, okay?" Kazuha said with a gentle tone.

"Yes, thank you Kazuha-Chan…".

I then heard the sound of someone removing clothes.

I couldn't stand it.

Kazuha was selling her body and sexual services for money?!

"Doesn't she already have a work?!" I thought.

I clenched my fists in anger.

I couldn't accept this situation but…

"Why does this bother me so much? This is not my life, this is not my situation… I shouldn't interfere."

I thought.

Kazuha's life was none of my business.

And yet, i still felt like was someone who held a big secret after seeing that situation.

"I must save her." After those words, i clenched my fists again and took a deep breath.

I then broke into the house.

"KAZUHA! YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO THIS!!" I yelled.

Then, i realized that i totally misunderstood the situation.

The home was all a mess.

I saw Kazuha holding a syringe in her right hand while sitting close to an old man , probably in his 60s, who was laying down on a futon.

They both looked at me with a shocked expression.

The old man didn't even get scared.

An awkward silence was filling the entire room.

I was red like a tomato.

Then, the old man started to speak.

"Ahem… Kazuha-Chan, do you know this guy?" He asked, with a strange tone.

Kazuha remained silent for some seconds before talking.

She didn't expect for me to come, but despite her stunned expression, i could see a glimpse of gratitude.

Then , i heard some other voices coming from upstairs.

"Oh? Who the fuck is here??!" There were multiple voices.

"Let's kill the intruder!!!" They said.

"Oh shit… I'm in danger…" I said, while gulping.

In a matter of seconds , five big men came downstairs , armed with a baseball bat.

They looked very scary, and they were about to hurt me in a very painful way.

I was scared. Way too much.

One of them grabbed me from the shirt and pushed me against the wall.

"Oh?!? What the fuck do you want from us?! Are you from the police ?!? We are CLEAN!" He yelled.

I couldn't speak any words.

But then, Kazuha spoke for me.

"Calm down! Yamada-San, he's my boyfriend!! He was just worried about me!!" Kazuha then came in my defence to save my life.

Her tone was really worried.

As soon as the man heard Kazuha's words, he immediately released me.

She put herself between me and the man.

"It's okay, he's safe." Kazuha added, while clinging to me, to show that she was my "girlfriend".

That situation actually seemed so strange.

By instinct, i put my arm around her waist, to hug her as a proof of our "momentarily" relationship.

It was a very awkward situation.

"Im awful." I thought.

"Oh!! I'm so sorry!! I thought you were an intruder."

The man who was about to kill me became a totally different person.

He became super sweet and gentle.

"Yeah… I'm sorry. My name is Fumihiro Aoyama."

The group of men seemed surprised after hearing my name.

They also calmed down and the grandpa on the futon spoke again.

"Oh! Aoyama, you say? Are you the son of Anzu and Akio??"

My eyes widened in surprise.

The old man knew about my parents.

Kazuha was still clinging on me, with a blush written all upon her face.

Since he knew my parents, he also probably knew about Ema.

"Yes, it's me. I'm their son." I said, with a direct but fake tone.

"Oh! Okay! Come in. You're welcome." He said with a very gentle tone.

"But first, i need Kazuha's help for my back"

After his last phrase, Kazuha broke the "hug" and walked close to the old man.

She grabbed the syringe from the floor and proceeded to inject something in the old man's back.

After a minute, the old man stood up and put his shirt on.

He then stretched his arms and invited me to sit next to him.

The group of men then bowed to the grandpa and went upstairs again.

They gave a small slap on my back but it was too strong.

"Come here, Aoyama-Kun." He said.

Kazuha smiled at me, patting the spot close to her.

I calmed down and sat next to Kazuha.

"Oh, Aoyama-Kun, i was a big friend of your father, you know? He helped me with a lot of things and saved my life once…" he said with a nostalgic tone.

"You may think I'm old , but me and your father were born in the same day and year. I look much older now because of my life style and disease…" he added.

I kept listening him very carefully, because he was speaking about my father.

I didn't know so much about him since it's never easy for my mother to talk about him.

So, hearing some new things about him literally really caught my attention.

Kazuha was sitting next to me, she was happy to have my company.

"Me and him were close friends… almost best friends… We did lots of stupid things together." He gently said.

Meanwhile, he drank a cup of tea that was on a little table close to him.

"And i was there when you came into this world. Your father cried of joy after he held you in his hands for the first time." He said with a reassuring smile.

I felt a shiver running trough my spine.

I knew he was speaking the truth.

"Oh sorry, Aoyama-Kun, my name is Bokkai Hasegawa. Kazuha's father."

Bokkai Hasegawa. Kazuha's father.

My head started to hurt for a little.

His name was too familiar but I don't remember his face at all.

I tried to remember but i couldn't.

"I know that you probably don't remember me, but you knew Kazuha since you were children, right?" He asked.

I nodded by instinct.

"Yes, me and Kazuha knew each other since little, we've always used to play together and… now we're a couple" I said without thinking.

Kazuha blushed a little and she held my hand to continue my act.

Her grip was very tight.

Her father smiled softly.

He was happy.

"Oh… Thank you for taking care of my little princess. Haha… *cough* *cough*" he then coughed a little and Kazuha got worried.

"Father! Are you okay?" She asked , while getting close to him.

"Yeah , im fine. It's because of medicine." He said.

Kazuha had a very worried expression on her face.

"Aoyama-Kun, once again, I thank you. During these years, Kazuha always spoke about you. But I didn't expect for her to hide such a thing from me… youngsters are very strange today, haha!" He said.

He was happy to see that his daughter was in a relationship with his best friend's son.

"Well, it's because you always said that you were jealous , father." Kazuha said.

I noticed that Bokkai didn't mention his other son Chiko even once.

I was curious but after Kazuha's argument with him, i knew it wouldn't have been a good question to do.

"Haha… yes… but Aoyama's son is different…" suddenly, Kazuha's father laid down on the futon.

"Kazuha-Chan, I'll take a nap. Go out with Aoyama-Kun. Don't stay too much time here. I'll be fine. Yamada-Kun will care for me." He said with a gentle tone.

Kazuha was trembling and grit her teeth.

"Yes, father. As you wish." She said with a cold tone.

She then grabbed my hand and gave me a forced smile.

"Let's go, cupcake." She said.

Her father was already asleep.

Kazuha didn't even give me the time to say goodbye to him.

With an outstanding force , she grabbed me and we walked outside.

Once our feet were touching the road instead of the house floor, Kazuha closed the door of her house and avoided to look into my eyes.

Instead, she was trembling.

I tried to calm her down by touching her arm, but she avoided my hand.

"What are you doing here?" She asked coldly and raising her head up to look into my eyes.

"Are you here to umiliate me?" She added.

I shook my head.

"No, Kazuha, i saw your argument with Chiko and i was worried about you…" i said, while scratching the back of my head.

After hearing my answer, Kazuha's eyes widened.

"You were… worried? You cared for… me?" She asked , with an incredulous tone.

I nodded.

"Yes…? I can consider you my friend now, right ? And i also know that we have lots of things to talk about." I replied.

"Friends… right." She then composed herself and cleaned her throat.

"F-Fumi." She whispered.

Her tone of voice sparkled trough my mind, making some strange blurred images coming into my mind.

My eyes widened.

"There's something very important that i must tell you" she said with a direct tone.

My body tensed up.

I was pending from her mouth.

"I…" she whispered….

~~~~~~Kazuha's Journal 2~~~~~~

Ema just asked me to be friends with her…

She's so fake.

I'm 99% sure that she was lying.

She always hated me since little.

What she has done to me… to my future…

I'll never forgive her.

She probably did that to mark her territory… to make me inoffensive.

To control him way more than she usually does.

She wants to be friend so that Fumihiro will forever see me only as a friend and to make me know my place.

I'm much more smarter than her.

All thanks to my bad life…

Born in a family of criminals…

Sorry if i lied to you, diary, but…

My parents aren't totally dead…

But they are, for me.

I worked alone all the time to give me and my brother a clean life while they were still being criminals.

I didn't notice that when I was little…

I'm still taking care of my father right now.

He's old and ill now.

But he's still my father.

Despite being a criminal, he always treated me like a princess.

But i hated his life.

Chiko is just the spitting image of him during his worst years.

That's why he's disgusting.

Luckily i was different…

My only happiness was having friends.

I never had them.

I was scared.

My only hope during my childhood was Fumihiro.

He always helped me…

He cared for me.

We promised to marry but… Ema stole him from me…

What should I do? Should I keep living my life as a spectator or should i live like the main character?

Who knows…

I remember all the times where we used to play together.

I remember when my father and his father took us in the playground… I remember everything…

Why did all of this actually disappeared from me?