Start Over

Chapter 21

Kaoru's POV:

I was at my house having dinner with my family. Suddenly, someone knocked on our door. My mother went to see who it was.

"Ryu!" my mother exclaimed and I choked on my rice, "it's good to see you again! Come in!"

I drank some juice and watched as Ryu and mom entered the dining room.

"Ryu! Boy! What a joy to see you back! Come sit with us! There is enough food for you too!" my dad exclaimed.

"I'm sorry that I arrived without notifying again, Mr and Mrs Matsubara" he apologized.

"Don't worry! It's okay! Sit next to Kaoru! I'll serve you a plate!" my mom exclaimed.

Ryu sat next to me. I noticed something strange. He didn't seem to be the same as always even though he tried to hide it. When we finished dinner everyone in my family wanted to talk to him, but I was worried and he looked a little overwhelmed.

"Okay! That's enough!" I yelled at my family, "I will speak to Ryu alone for a moment if I may!"

I tugged on his arm until we reached the backyard.

"What's up? You seem a little-" I asked him, but he interrupted me with a hug, "whoa! Ryu, did you missed me already?! We saw each other this afternoon at school!"

I could feel Ryu hugging me tighter and squeezing my shirt. I listened to his abnormal and labored breathing. That really scared me.

"Ryu. What's wrong?" I asked him, trying to calm him down.

"Ju-just... h-hold me... please" he stuttered.

I was very surprised to hear him say that, but I still did as he asked. I hugged him as tightly as I could and stroked his hair until he calmed down. He pulled away from me slowly. He was crestfallen. It was a very sad image.

"I'm sorry. I didn't want you to see me like this" he told me, "but I didn't think of doing anything else. I just needed you."

I could see a tear slide down his cheek.

"Ryu, I-" I tried to speak, but he interrupted me.

"Please, I don't want you to see me like this" he pleaded me.

I ignored his request and slowly brought my hand up to his face. I finally got him to look at me. His eyes were covered with tears, they were puffy and red.

"Ryu, it's okay for you to cry. I also do it from time to time" I tried to make him feel better.

At least he chuckled. He took my hand and made me caress his face. Then he kissed my hand tenderly. I hope my family isn't looking out the window at us.

"Will you tell me what happens?" I asked him.

"We finally face our parents" he answered me.

"Oh, oh!" I said.

"It didn't go too well. Now it turns out that mom has cancer. We couldn't even talk about adoption" he explained.

"Wait, what?! Your mother has cancer?! That's terrible, Ryu! I'm so sorry!" I was shocked.

"Yoshito knew this and said nothing to us. He's a damn traitor. I'm sick of everyone hiding things from me" he clenched his fists.

"And what do you plan to do?" I asked him.

"I don't know" he sighed, "to be honest, I don't want to go back to my house."

"You know you can't be mad at them forever, right?" I asked him, crossing my arms.