The Golden Pear [YA - Featured]

♫~Notes 82~♫

 The next day, nothing out of the ordinary happened until close to the lunch break.

"Freya Inuhakka, please, show up at reception," a woman's voice came from the class speaker.

All eyes set on her as the voice repeated it once more. They were in the middle of class, and Rigaku stood in front of the whiteboard, showing how he had solved the math problem everybody struggled with.

Freya stood up, bowed, and headed out with racking her brain of what could be the meaning of this.

'It's not about my message to Ueno-san, right?' An awkward smile rested on her face. 'I just wished her good dreams.'

Her steps echoed through the empty halls as she got closer to the receptionist room. Knocking the door, with pumping heart, she entered following the voice inside.

She visited this room a few times last year to gather all information she needed. The receptionist room provided soft sofas and a table like in the lobby, so visitors often used it to wait there.

In the room sat a man with reddish hair. His features long and strained as if he didn't have a wink of an eye for days. His fingers fidgeted, trying to tangle themselves. His head lifted as the girl entered.

Their eyes widened as they realized who the other person was.

"Freya-chan!" The man jumped on his feet, hugging her.

'Uncle Hiroki?' She returned the hug with hesitation. 'Why is he here? Did something happen to his family?'

The older woman behind the desk gave them only a glance, returning to her work typing data into the database. Her uncle freed her from his bear hug.

"I'm so happy!" He sniffed, surpassing the tears. "I don't know what I would do!"

Freya had to form a time-out gesture as she had no idea what he talked about. Tugging his arm, she guided him toward the canteen. It was already opened for a few hours as students and senseis alike could have breakfast there as well.

Since the rush hour didn't start yet, and it was a lesson time, not many people sat there. Picking an empty table, she gestured to her uncle to explain what he had meant.

Hiroki Izumi's dark brown eyes locked with hers, and a stream of tears sparkled inside them.

"Our company had a scheduled meeting here with one of your clients, but my senpai couldn't make it, so I went in his place."

Freya nodded as uncle worked in a company that was quite big and had a lot of clients across Japan. It was one reason he had little free time, often away from his family. Asking for something from him caused Freya anxiety and discomfort even if that was a new pen.

"I managed to finish ahead of my return flight, so I decided to give you a surprise visit. I was so excited to see you after such a long time, I forgot about the time. I didn't realize you could be in school until I stood in front of your flat."