Chapter 17

After the BBQ party, everyone started to help each other and clean up as the night was about to fall.

By 7 pm, Daichi's grandchildren went to bed early because they woke up so early in the morning preparing for this trip and because they had eaten a lot, laughed, and played a lot.

The parent's team agreed to go to bed early because they felt tired including Daichi's sons and their wives, who are married.

Daichi looked at the youngster's team and said " (sigh) Our body is just not the same as before when we were young. I'm jealous of you, youngsters. However, hope you guys enjoy the moments and have fun as much as you can right now because when you grow up..." before Daichi could complete his sentence, Daichi's wife pulled Daichi's ears and dragged him to the room while saying " Don't talk a lot, you old man. Leave the kids to enjoy their moments. Why do you have to interfere with your none stopping talk about the old days, just accept the reality already."

" What a poor man..." said Taiyo with an awkward smile.

" As expected from my sister-in-law. (thumps up) no one can control that old man except my sister-in-law. So amazing." Said Tadame with a sparkling admiring eye for her capable sister-in-law.

Taiyo turned to the youngsters and told them to enjoy their time but not to sleep so late.

"Goodnight~," said Taiyo and Tadame to the youngsters and went to their room.

The youngsters played few games for a couple of hours and then decided to get ready for bed.

Everyone tidied their mess and wished each other a good night and went to their room.

Saira shared the room with Usagi as Usagi wanted. Both of them had a warm bath and went to bed. Usagi fell asleep right away, while Saira was staring at her phone.

After checking that Usagi was in deep sleep, Saira took her phone and wore her long robe on her long nightdress, and went outside the room with careful steps so that she won't wake up or disturb Usagi.

Saira managed to get out of the bedroom and went on a walk beside the beach.

Saira couldn't sleep. Lots of things and possibilities crossed her mind. In the past, if her mother won't pick up, Saira was always sure that her mother is working. However now, it has been so long since Saira has talked to her mother. The calls have declined and unreachable more than before.

Sometimes, Saira thinks it might be because it is something that she longed for and needed so badly and it's because it's something that is out of her reach that she just can not get rid of it.

Saira stared at the moon, then she sat down by the beach, closed her eyes, and listened to the wave's sound. Saira wasn't sure if it's because it's nighttime that it feels more lonely than usual. It's dark and cold. For Saira, the waves sound, and the moon looked lonely, so lonely and sad to her.

Saira unlocked her phone and searched for the celebrity's news, she was looking for any news about her mother.

There were nonstop news, achievements, and rewards about her mother. " Waah! All that?!... There is news about her almost every day! ...She is working a lot... I wonder how can she manage all that?... Is she resting well?!"

And then Saira looked at the unread bank account massages. Saira always put the bank account massages in a silent mood and unrevealed. Once Saira opened the unread messages, she was surprised by the nonstop notification. It seemed like her mother has been sending her a big amount of money every day, which made Saira surprised and confused. She wondered what her mother was thinking by doing this. With the current amount of money that she has, she could travel the world comfortably for the rest of her life. Saira then recalled what Yoshinori told her. " Everyone has their own way to express and show their love and protection for their family."

"... I wonder... If this is how you show your love..." said Saira faintly.

Saira let out a sigh and said " Why adults are so complicated?... I wonder if I can call her now... Ok, I'll just call her one last time." Saira decided to call her mother for the last time, but in the end, there was still no answer.

Saira let out a sigh and said " Whatever, she just became super busy, there is nothing to worry about... Right?..." said Saira while sitting with her arms leaning on her knees.

Saira raised her face and then dialed her father's number, however, he also did not pick up. Saira then thought of texting Oliver, but it seemed like he did not know anything the last time they talked. Saira felt an unclear Deja vu like feeling. Saira lifted her head looking up to the dark sky and closed her eyes then sighed once again.

" You surely sighed a lot today." said someone behind her.

" Yes, I surely did," said Saira with her eyes still closed.

" I guess Kohana-San and Masahiro-San, your parents are super busy, huh," Said the person behind her.

" yeah, they surely are" answered Saira without thinking.

"...." Saira then stayed quiet as she was realizing what she has answered and with whom she is responding.

Saira opened her eyes in realization for what she has said and turned behind her.

Saira's body jolted in surprise and shock when she saw that the person who she answered was Kaori. Saira quickly smiled and laughed to cover for what she said.

" Ahahaha, Kaori- San? What are you saying?! Who?! What?! I mean I was kidding what I meant is that I wish if my Parents were Kohana-san and Masahiro-San! Don't joke with me like that! What if someone heard you?! They would misunderstand!" said Saira with a little bit of high voice and an awkward smile, trying to deny what she just has said.

Kaori chuckled. Saira looked at Kaori as she couldn't understand his reason for chuckling. She wondered if she did something funny or that she had something on her face.

Kaori took off his jacket and covered Saira with it. " It's cold, isn't it?" said Kaori gently while covering Saira with his jacket.

Saira felt embarrassed and thanked Kaori for his jacket.

" I don't think you remember or have noticed. But we have seen each other before." Said Kaori.

Saira looked at Kaori's face while squeezing her memories trying to remember. However, it seems like she couldn't find anything about Kaori in her memories so she just kept staring at Kaori's face.

From Kaori's point of view, Saira's reaction was cute. He wanted to tease her more however, his feeling for wanting for Saira to remember him was greater.

" At that time you were delivering something for your mother in the waiting room in a tv station. When you got out of the room, your mother cam-out and hugged you. I remember you said, " Please go inside ma'am, people would misunderstand if you hug me and look at me so affectionately and tightly like that." and then your mother said " who cares I'm your mother. A mother hugging her beloved soft daughter, just let them say whatever they want I don't care~" and then you said..."

Saira interrupted Kaori by closing his mouth with her both hands. " Ok, I remember the situation, that's enough," said Saira while looking troubled and embarrassed. After she managed to stop Kaori she moved her hands and apologized for her rudeness.

" That's that, but how did you know that? I don't remember running into each other" asked Saira.

" that's because I haven't finished explaining." Said Kaori.

" Oh... Yes, sorry." said Saira.

" At that time my father was a cast for a health program, and I was there waiting for him. I was sitting at the corner beside the vending machine which was beside your mother's waiting room. That's how I got to see your situation. And about how we met, you dropped this pendant, but when I wanted to give it back to you, you ran away as soon as you saw me." explained Kaori.

"... Oh, yes... Now I remember. At that time I was flustered. I assumed you saw me with... My mom and wanted to ask, so I ran away fast to avoid any questions. Sorry for that." said Saira.

" Yes, and at that time you looked so..."

Saira interrupted Kaori saying " Yes, I know, well enough of that."

Kaori chuckled " Well, I was going to say cute~"

" Whatever..." said Saira with a red face.

" Well then, I'm returning this pendant to you now," said Kaori

The pendant that held Saira's parent's photo inside. At that time Saira held it dearly. At that time she felt so sad and terrified that she lost it because she was afraid that someone will find out but then she remembered that there was only her parent's photo and there is no trace of her so maybe it's ok if someone did not see that pendant with her.

As days go on, Saira felt that there is no point in treasuring and holding that pendant so dearly. " The real them are not here anyway..." that what she told herself.

When Kaori gave Saira the pendant, she looked at it blankly. She did not know how to feel... In another word, she did not have any feelings when she received it back.