Sweet Memories

Joon holds each instrument. He did not think that in the end, he would leave all of his favorite musical instruments.

Joon clearly remembers that the mini studio was his most comfortable place when he was a kid. When little Joon experienced emotional outbursts because he was often bullied at his elementary school, he would lock himself up all day in this place until his emotions subsided.

Only in this place, he will feel so calm. Ignoring the taunts of his friends for his stupidity, ignoring the taunts of his friends because he doesn't have a mother. This place is a place where Joon can express all his emotions.

In this soundproof music room, no one would hear if he was wailing because she was bullied. No one knows either when he groaned in pain when his head - which had a birth defect - was acting up again.

This room is the most memorable for Joon among the other rooms in this house.

"What are you doing, Joon?" A voice from the studio doorway rang out.

Joon suddenly turned to the source of the voice. Joon smiled at his daddy, as if nothing had happened. He's a teenager and about to grow up. He couldn't possibly act as childish as usual. What's more, the events that he experienced recently made Joon look more mature.

"Just seeing all these instruments one last time, Dad." Joon spoke softly. He refocused on touching all his musical instruments, such as saying goodbye to the inanimate object that was precious to Joon.

Joon picks up one of the guitars hanging on the wall. This guitar is full of scribbles of encouragement. He remembers, this guitar was a gift from Joon's friends when Joon was seriously ill a few years ago.

Joon showed the guitar to Kenichi with a bright smile as usual.

"Dad, Joon can bring this one? That spooky uncle wouldn't mind, right?" Joon whispered.

Kenichi entered the music room and lightly tapped his nephew's shoulder.

"Bring it, Joon! Bring whatever Joon wants! No one will object, daddy will make sure of it," said Kenichi, trying to comfort his nephew.

Joon always hides his sad expression. He more often displays a cheerful face without an innocent impression that seems stupid. However, Kenichi knew that his nephew was even good at putting on a happy expression to make those around him feel less worried. Yes, that's the nature of his Zenkyo's son, Kenichi's sister

"Then, Joon wants to bring the whole house, including Papa's car and motorbike. It's easy for him to play away without saying anything," Joon grumbled, annoyed.

"You can't bring it all, Joon. We just don't know where to live after this."

"Why don't we just stay at the cafe? Looks like the top floor which is usually used by the office, we can turn it into our house, Dad." Joon expresses his advice.

It seems that God granted Joon's wish when he was talking about living in boarding houses. Now a reality, Joon was kicked out of his father's house. Going forward, he didn't want to say anything reckless again. Joon hit his damn mouth.

"Jaya did suggest staying at the cafe earlier. Luckily, Sacred Lotus's Cafe has the certificate in Jaya Raizaski's name. So, we don't have to be afraid that the Hirano family will kick us out again. Thankfully, Joon also agrees." Kenichi spoke. He sat in front of Joon. Joon sits cross-legged on the fluffy carpet, which covers the entire floor of the music room.

Joon looks calmer than before. He started strumming his guitar and took a deep breath, like he was about to start singing his song.

"Eh, wait! What are you doing Joon?" Kenichi screamed when he saw his nephew posing like he was going to hold a solo concert.

Joon's brow furrowed. His Daddy should know that his favorite Joon is in the school band. Then, what's the problem if Joon sings a few songs? Even though Joon is actually not a vocalist and the genre that D'Crocodiles has carried so far is the rock genre.

"Joon of course wants to sing, Daddy. Why is Daddy surprised like that, um? It just ruins the mood."

"Okay, before singing, answer daddy first! What position has Joon been holding in the Crocodile band all this time?"

"D'Crocodiles is not Crocodile, Dad!" Joon corrected his father's words. His daddy just arbitrarily changed Joon's band name to Crocodile.

"Joon's position has been holding the keyboard. So, what's the problem? Even though Joon's voice is not as good as Miryu, Joon can really sing," continued Joon, annoyed. His lips were pursed in annoyance.

"Joon, listen to daddy! Daddy's been bothered by our sudden expulsion like this, so don't break daddy's mentality again with Joon's ugly voice."

"Reckless! Joon's voice is not bad, you know!" Joon groaned. He just threw the guitar away. His daddy's words just really messed up Joon's mood, or has Joon's mood been ruined since he was expelled earlier? Who knows.

Joon's eyes felt so hot. He hugged his knees and began to bury his face between his knees. Slowly a muffled sob was heard, after a few seconds the sobbing got louder and louder.

Kenichi instead smiled seeing Joon crying between his knees. He wasn't going to calm his nephew's cries just yet.

"Cry hard, Honey! Joon doesn't need to be strong in front of daddy! It doesn't matter if it's only tears, if you hold it in it will become poison. So, cry and scream if it's necessary."

After hearing his daddy's words, Joon cried and screamed with all his might. He expresses all his emotions. Let people say that Joon is whiny or right, but he's not ready to grow up yet. His soul is still very unstable and has not been able to accept the fate that suddenly turned his comfortable life upside down.

Kenichi stepped out of the music room. He closed the door slowly. He will give his nephew time to cry and wail until his feelings are conveyed. Kenichi understands that crying is a form of emotional outburst. So, he won't stop Joon's crying just yet.

***

Akiyama Takeyuki was holding two hair samples that were located in a plastic bag. He gripped the two hair samples tightly. One sample belongs to him and the other belongs to one of his students at HIS. Takeyuki picked up the hair while the student was unconscious in the infirmary.

Takeyuki looked at the photo that was on his desk. Photo of a woman holding a fat little baby.

The baby looks so adorable wrapped in a purple baby blanket. His eyes only looked in line because his face seemed to be filled with widened cheeks. His little lips look so adorable.

Takeyuki gently stroked the photo. He wasn't in the photo, nor did Takeyuki know when it was taken. Probably around 3 months after Takumi's birth. It's also possible that Zenkyo's sister took the photo.

Zenkyo showed the photo to Takeyuki, after their separation. Takeyuki was so surprised when Zenkyo suddenly came with a 2 year old baby. It was also the woman who said the baby was Takeyuki's child.

They lived together for 2 years before the fatal accident took the lives of Zenkyo and his son. And Takeyuki went crazy after that incident. In fact, he had never seen the corpses of Zenkyo and his son.

"Zenkyo, maybe you'll hate me for doing this. It's not that I doubted what you said that time, I just wanted to confirm. I hope that boy is indeed our Takumi, not your son with a longish boy, who dared to kiss you in front of my eyes that time," muttered Akiyama Takeyuki.

To be continued....