The Memories Remained No Matter How Faint They Were

The hallway of the hotel was brightly lit. Nothing could escape from someone's eyes as every inch of it was illuminated by the exquisite lamps hanging on the ceiling and the walls.

Ding!

The elevator had arrived yet, neither Himari nor Kazuya entered. In the end, the doors of the elevator closed again.

Three people, one woman and two men remained standing in front of the elevators. All of them carried different expressions on their countenances.

Himari stared at Jun. The five years of being with him before made her understood the look in his reddened eyes right now.

Her heart might no longer contain the feelings she had for him but, the memories remained no matter how faint they were.

Besides...

There was one hidden thing that forbade her to accept him back.

If only he knew what happened after he went abroad.

About what his mother had done to her.

She kept it away from everyone. Not even her mother or Nanako knew about it.

If she revealed it...

Her heart would be torn to pieces.

Himari drew a long breath. With an unwavering gaze, she stared at the man with who she used to pour all of her love.

"Jun, I know you are a reasonable guy. When I said it's over between us, it is really over. There would be no possibility of rekindling our relationship whatsoever."

Some said, even though we felt nothing for the ones we used to love, it might be because the feelings were suppressed deep within our hearts.

If we did something or anything that would lit up the spark once again, we might be swallowed whole in its flame.

And, when the burning passion failed again, the consequences would be extremely dire.

It might totally kill you inside.

"No! If it's really over, why do you remain alone all this time?" Jun burst out in frustration. The calmness that he always showed to other people crumbled in an instant, "You're waiting for me, isn't it? I don't believe that you have anything with this man!"

His eyes were as sharps as daggers once they were directed to the man beside Himari.

Kazuya stared back at him with an equally piercing gaze.

Why couldn't he respect Himari's decision to not have anything to do with him again?

Wasn't he supposed to be a bright man?

Indeed, humans tended to act far from how they used to if they couldn't handle their emotions well.

Kazuya's eyes fell on the young lady next to him. He was amused to see how straight her back was, how unfaltering she appeared in front of the man who she used to love.

Himari's brows slightly furrowed at the face of Jun's pleading.

"You shouldn't dictate or assume over the choices of someone's life. Whether I have someone with me or not, it's up to me. My life has no longer revolving around you."

Letting go was hard.

The fond memories of them together always resonated in her mind in the early days of their separation.

Yet, the pain gradually lessened.

Himari didn't know if it was because she had completely moved on or the reason was that she had been numbed by the pain.

Jun shook his head. His expression twisted as countless emotions were surging in his heart, broke through the layer of defense with him. Veins popped on the back of his hands as he gripped his fists tight.

How could he really accept her reasons?

Seeing that it would waste more of her time, Himari turned around. With a glance at Kazuya, she said softly, "Let's go."

Kazuya faintly nodded. He followed the lady's small steps. Himari had already pushed the button of the elevator.

Jun was exasperated. The moment he saw Himari turning her back to him, something snapped in his mind.

"Himari!"

He reached out a hand to grab her wrist but with a sudden smack, his hand was pushed to the other side.

Jun's eyes widened. He stared at the man who suddenly slapped his hand hard. The quick smack almost numbed his had.

To the man who was stubborn, Kazuya gave him a smirk, "You should be a gentleman, aren't you? When a lady says no, it's a no. You should know that it's bad to force your feelings on someone who has moved on."

The words struck Jun hard. He darted his eyes to the man and to Himari who didn't even spare a look back at him.

Ding!

Once again, the doors slid open.

Kazuya smiled again but his eyes were cold.

"Learn to respect someone's decision, okay?"

With that, he turned around and entered the elevator. Himari had already stepped inside. She kept her gaze straight in front of her yet, it never fell on Jun again.

Before the doors slid close, Jun was desperately looking at her. But, he only met with a cold expression on her face.

Thud.

The doors were closed.

Inside the elevator, both Himari and Kazuya were quiet.

Himari threw her gaze out to her side of the elevator, seeing at her reflection on the shiny surface of the panels. Her eyes no longer carried the same resolve she had when she faced Jun earlier. She pursed her lips hard, trying to keep the turmoils of her heart in check.

Ding!

They finally arrived at the lobby.

Once the doors were opened, the symphony played inside the lobby greeted them. People were still walking back and forth in the huge lobby, either with friends or lovers or businessmen who had just arrived with their suitcases.

Kazuya extended a hand, asking Himari to step out first. She gave him a faint smile.

They walked out of the hotel. Himari just followed the man's lead. After walking down the side road for a bit, they arrived at the parking spot of Kazuya's car.

Neither of them talked until they left the hotel. Himari's eyes fell on the side mirror. The image of the hotel got farther and farther away as the car entered the main road.

The neon lights of the buildings and lamp poles in their surroundings fell in the inside of the car, lightly illuminating their expressions. Soft music slowly transversed in the spaces between them.

Kazuya steadily and carefully maneuvered the car on the road.

"Are you sad? Meeting him like that?"

His voice broke the silence between them. Kazuya's questions drew Himari back from her complicated thoughts.

"Rather than sad, I'm kind of disappointed," Himari was being truthful as she answered him.

Kazuya lifted up his gaze to the rear mirror, looking at Himari who was now frowning with her eyes lowered. In a second, his eyes were back on the road ahead of him.

"Why? Do you actually want to return to him but the consequences pull you back?"

His straightforward question incited a faint laugh from Himari. Kazuya was confused to see her laughing.

"What's wrong?"

Was there something wrong with his questions?

Himari laughed again. Her laughter was crisp, like the sound of the wind chime.

"How could you directly ask me that? People don't usually ask that kind of questions so straightforwardly as you did."

Her eyes curved into crescents as she continued laughing.

"...Sorry."

Kazuya silently cursed himself. He himself didn't understand why did he be so forthright when asking her about that man.

"I'm sorry, really," He repeated his apology with his eyes downcast.

Himari's laughter gradually died down. She looked at him with a hint of teasing in her eyes.

"I've always thought you're a considerate and thoughtful guy but, it seems like my impression of you should be re-evaluated?"

"No, I am a considerate and thoughtful guy. Just keep my good image in your mind. Please excuse my blunder earlier."

Once again her laughter filled the car.

Kazuya could really be shameless in viewing his own good qualities.

Well, Chiharu had really learned well from him.

"Ah, that's a good laugh," Himari's lips curled into a smile. Turning her head to the man next to him, her smile softened, "About your questions, I really have no intention to go back to him."

Her stance on that matter was firm. It wouldn't be easy to persuade her to break her resolve.

Kazuya glanced at her for a second, "Then, why did you say you feel disappointed?"

The speed of the car was slowed down as it entered an intersection.

Himari's smile drooped. She moved her gaze from the man to the outside of the car.

They had arrived at the street of 'Sakura Under the Lights'.

From afar, Himari could see countless people walking down the streets. Bubbly laughter of theirs got carried away by the gentle night breeze, slowly dispersing in the air.

"I don't really know how should I say it but, seeing how he acted earlier makes me disappointed," Himari bit her lower lip.

Kazuya turned off the engine. He properly leaned his back on the seat, hummed inaudibly then looked back at her.

Seeing that she didn't continue beyond that, he tapped one hand on the dashboard.

"Let's go out. The night is breezy. It might help to cool you down," said Kazuya gently. He treated the last question he asked her as it never happened.

Himari hooked up the corners of her lips. She nodded, "En."

The two got out of the car.

The very moment Himari emerged out from the car, a cool breeze blew past her, lightly twirling the soft fabric of her dress.

The lights hanging over the cherry blossom trees twinkled brightly in the night, sending rays of light in the darkness to people who yearn for it.