A Fresh Start

In the afternoon, Haruto came out the bathroom and made his way towards the mirror, standing before the mirror he started looking at his reflection, he was all freshened up, his face shaved hairs neatly styled and dressed in clean, new clothes, a bandage on his cheeks and on the area of top of his eyebrows, he kept gazing at himself in silence.

Then a warm genuine smile spread across his face, one that was missing for years, smiling warmly at his reflection, he was looking at himself with almost surprise.

Then walking towards his bed, he sat down and grabbed his phone, with a deep breath he made a call and pressed his phone to his ear. The smile stayed soft and warm as the call began to ring.

At Haruto's childhood home, his father was sitting comfortably on the couch reading the newspaper. Rensuke was sitting nearby working on his laptop which was on lap, his brows frowned in concentration. Both men were absorbed in their tasks.

Suddenly Haruto's father's phone began to ring, he put the newspaper down, moved ahead grabbing it, his face lightened up with joy upon seeing Haruto's name flashing on the caller's id, "It's Haruto," he said smiling.

Rensuke turned his eyes to his father, his expressions still serious and unchanged.

The father quickly answered the call placing his phone on his ear, "Hey Haruto." he said, his voice brimming with excitement.

Haruto smiles warmly, "Hey dad, how are you?" he asked.

"I'm absolutely fine, how are you?" his father asked, his voice bubbling with excitement.

"I'm also fine" Haruto replied, a smile remained constant on his face.

"Is everything alright? you are okay, right?" his father asked again, a hint of concern in his voice.

"I'm fine," Haruto assured him, his voice trembling slightly, "Dad, I'm coming back" he said with tears welling up in his eyes.

His father's eyes widened in disbelief, seemed stunned.

Tears streamed down Haruto's face as he continued, "I'm coming back home, dad, I'm moving back."

His father struggled to control his emotions, his eyes began welling up with tears, he wanted to speak but words caught in his throat.

Confused, Rensuke kept looking at his father intently.

"Are you serious?" his father asked in a low, stunned tone.

Haruto's tears kept flowing freely, overwhelmed with emotions he said, "Yes dad, I'm coming back."

Overwhelmed with joy, his father began to laugh heartily, Rensuke watched, his confusion grew, as he kept observing his father.

Standing up, the father said out loud, "Honey, it's Haruto, he's coming back!"

Rensuke's eyes widened, seeming a bit surprised.

Haruto's mother quickly rushed out of the kitchen, her face beaming with joy and excitement, standing before her husband she asked, "Are you serious, is Haruto really coming back, is he really?" her voice was filled with enthusiasm and hope.

His mother's voice, filled with excitement, was clear through the phone which was heard by Haruto, making his smile and emotions grow.

The father, beaming with joy and excitement, looking at her wife nodded in agreement.

"Ask him, ask him, when is he returning?" the mother urged eagerly.

With a warm smile the Father nodded, "Haruto, when will you be coming back my son?" he asked through the phone.

Haruto, smiling warmly, replied "Tonight."

"Can't you just come right away?" His father asked with a smile.

Haruto's smile grew wider, "No, dad there are few things here which I need to settle, I'll be there before dinner."

His father then turned his attention to the mother and said, "Start the preparation, Haruto will be here before the dinner."

Her mother's eyes sparkled with anticipation, her face glowing with joy.

"Alright, Haruto, we all are eagerly waiting for you." his father said with a joyful tone, "Just don't be too late, or your favorite dinner might get cold"

Haruto beamed with joy, "Don't worry dad, I won't make dinner wait for long" he said with a playful edge.

"See you at dinner then." his father said, his smile broadening.

"See you," Haruto said, ending the call, and began gazing at the screen with a satisfied smile.

He then stood up, walked and pulled down a big suitcase from the top of his cupboard, placing it carefully on the floor.

"This might be enough" he muttered to himself, opening the suitcase he started packing his belongings, just then his apartment's doorbell rang, drawing Haruto's attention.

Haruto then went to the door and opened it, finding the same man who had delivered the car the previous night, the man was standing and smiling at him.

With a hesitant smile the man said, "I'm really sorry sir for being late!"

Haruto smiles back, "It's okay, wait, let me get the keys" he walks away, taking out the keys from the drawer and handing them to the man.

"Thank you and I hope you enjoyed the ride," the man said with a warm smile.

Haruto, still smiling, nodded in response, receiving the nod the man turned and walked away. Haruto closed the door and resumed his task.

A few minutes laters, the doorbell rang again, Haruto opened the door to find the same man standing there, now holding the bouquet of flowers Haruto had bought for Kanna.

Haruto was staring at the bouquet, its petals slightly wilted, a shadow of sadness crossed on Haruto's face.

The man then extended the bouquet towards Haruto, who remained motionless.

"It was on the back seat of the car, It's maybe yours," the man said with a gentle smile.

Haruto slowly shook his head in denial, forcing a smile he said, "You can throw them outside."

The man returned the smile and replied "I'm sorry sir, but It's against our policy, you can throw them yourself."

With a slow deliberate motion Haruto took the bouquet, the man then reached into his pocket and pulled out a card and extended it towards Haruto. It was a smiley face emoji card. Haruto got a bit surprised, gazing at it with disbelief.

"I believe this also belongs to you," The man said.

Haruto took the card, staring at it with confusion, then with a final nod the man turned around and began walking away.

Haruto closed the door, his focus still on the card, turning it over he saw a number written on it, he walked over and dropped the card into the trash bin.

Setting the bouquet on the table, a smile spreading across his face as he admired it, gently stroking the roses, remembering how happy Kanna was after seeing these roses.

"Kanna" Haruto said softly, his gaze fixed on the roses, "I hope you find someone who can love you more than I do, I'll try to move on, but you will always be my first and special one" a soft smile remained on his lips, as he kept admiring the flowers.