Perspective : Nobiyuki Susumu
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As we left Kotome's house, we noticed it was getting late. It was a bit past evening, and surprisingly cold...
We walk down the street, but I hesitate to walk further. Ren stops.
"What's wrong?"
"No. Well, where are we going?"
"Hah? Aren't we going to your house?"
"No. We can't go there!"
He leans against a wall, as he begins unwrapping a lollipop.
"Why can't we go?"
"W-Well..."
I stare at the ground, silent.
"I don't really have a home..."
"Eh? But you---"
"I Attempted Suicide! I was admitted to a mental ward!"
Ren becomes silent. His eyes shifting towards mine.
"That mental ward...was going to intern me there for life....My entire family knew I wouldn't come back. Then, what makes you think I have a home anymore if they all knew I wouldn't return?"
"But, Susumu. I'm sure they would understan---"
"They Wouldn't! I don't have a great relationship with my family either..."
He scratches his head curiously.
"I just don't understand. Anyways, it's getting really late. We can't really stand around all day either."
"But, couldn't we just take shelter inside your world?"
Waving a finger, he dismisses my question.
"No good. First of all, my world stasis returns me to a journal form in this world. We would be completely invisible to everything, unless a demon or even another angel notices. Secondly..."
Ren places his finger on my chest.
"You are a Human. My world stasis can only do so much for you. Your body isn't meant to withstand the forces of these manipulations."
He retracts his hand slowly. The same flames that manifested my sword began surrounding his hand.
"Normally, a human is not supposed to be able to use an Angel's power. It is rendered impossible without leaving the body as a spirit. But....In this case, we are breaking a very strict rule. We can't risk being found so easily."
"Leaving the body?"
"Right. Under normal circumstances, a person opens their journal, and their body undergoes a state of unconsciousness. Their spirit is then free to use the Angel's power without restriction."
"Couldn't I just do that?"
"Then, why do you think I'm telling you we should go to your house? We can't just leave your body out on the street."
"But..."
As I look down at the ground, he lets out a sigh.
"I understand. It hurts doesn't it?"
He pats my back.
"But, we can't simply stand by and let it go unsolved can we? No matter how bad it may be, we still have to remind ourselves of the people counting on us. No matter how dire the situation, we must always remember that there are those who still believe you're strong when you're weak."
He smiles brightly.
"I'm counting on you, Susumu."
I nod, silently walking down the street once more.
"My house is just 2 more blocks away..."
Ren follows after me.
"Don't worry. I'll be there to support you."
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The cold air breezes through my face. Why is winter so cold...?
"So this is it, huh?"
"Yeah..."
Ren pushes open the door, walking in casually without asking. No shame...
"It's so dark in here."
"Then, let's head for my room."
The house was empty. Nobody was home. Not a single soul in sight...
A desolate place, dusty and dark.
As soon as we walk into my room, Ren stares at me in curiosity.
"Where's your family?"
"Well..."
Silence fills the lonely house. I didn't know how to respond...
No. I knew exactly how to respond. But, it was too painful to think about my own family.
"You know, I do remember you were placed in a mental ward."
"Yeah.."
"Ah. I also remember you tried killing yourself. That's how you ended up in there."
"Yeah.."
Yawn. He takes a seat on my simple style bed. A bed I haven't touched for so long...
That's right. I don't remember how long I have been in that mental ward.
"But, that's all I can remember from the Soul Link. Your soul didn't seem to be willing to show much more."
"Wh-What exactly did you see anyway?"
"No. Nothing else. Just those things you showed me before."
"Hah. I'm still not sure how this 'Soul Link' works..."
He grins devilishly.
"Oh, I guess it didn't work fully because you were having very impure thoughts. Hey! Tell me! What dirty fantasies were you imagining with that girl? 'Oh Kotome! I'll save you with my heroic effort! Oh! I'll show you my power after this...My...Love Power! Oh!'"
I throw a pillow at him.
"Shut Up! You're the pervert here!"
"Fine.."
Sigh. I lean against the dust covered wall, my hands freezing.
"So, Ren, what's your family like?"
"Family...."
I slide my hands inside the pockets of my sweater. This winter atmosphere is unbearable...
"I don't really have a family to begin with."
He stares into the white ceiling.
"You see, my parents divorced when I was only 12 years old. No, perhaps that's not too bad? Well, it was still frustrating. I couldn't understand why it was happening, when they were getting along perfectly fine before. At least, that's how I wanted to see it. I don't even remember what happened. My dad began distancing himself from me and my younger sister. It only became worse with each day that passed. Before I knew it, our dad was no longer there for us. He disappeared from our lives. As for our mom, things weren't going very good either. My mom began to drink every night at some bar. Each night, she would come home drunk. Sometimes she would try to beat my sister, but, I always ended up taking the beatings for her. I guess you could say I protected her. Heh."
I gaze outside the window. It was close to night time now...
"Nothing ever really changed from those times really...Actually, my mom is still the same way even now...The truth is, I don't know if I hate my own mom or not.."
"Yeah. I feel the same."
My mom was hardly in my life..
As our silence filled the room, the winter breeze loudly thrusted outside.
"Well, I suppose family is just a gift some people lack."
"You're right...I guess I---"
Thump. What was that?
I turn my head, and immediately see a person standing in the doorway. A person I immediately recognized...
My breath grows heavy...
My eyes unable to look away.
In that moment, I had felt a profound sadness I had not felt in so long...
"...Susumu...?"
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Author's Note
Hello everyone! I hope you enjoyed this chapter, although it was relatively short. I do apologize for the delay, as I did have personal life problems, and I couldn't focus very much on writing. I will update more frequently now, however. Expect an update every Saturday from now on.
That is all I have to say this week! I hope you are enjoying the series, and thank you for reading~
First Arc : Melancholic Ties
Begins Next Chapter!