A Surprise Visit

An hour after I confirmed Aoi was asleep. The natural thing to do was snoop around her apartment. Her bathroom was sparkly clean, it was hard to find dirt anywhere. The yellow bathtub is 127 cm wide and 40 inches from off the floor. Toy ducks, Teddy bears, tiny boats and a music box was screwed next to the bathtub for easy reach. "I bet her baths take half an hour at least" I said after leaving.

The next place I checked was the kitchen. Aoi always cook healthy lunchboxes for school, I was curious to see if she has any special ingredient I'm unaware of. When I opened the fridge, there was only beverages. Nothing that could be chew. "Weird, what is she going to eat?".

Someone like Aoi must have food stored somewhere but why not the kitchen? Another thing that bothered me is how many alcohol in the fridge, More than half. "Is she a drinker?"

This is news to me, Aoi does not look like an alcoholic. The last place I snooped around was in her bedroom. On her dresser, there was a small notepad that caught my attention. It was named 'Not A Diary'. With a title like that, I have no choice but to open the diary.

She began writing in this book from the age of 13, two years ago.

Day 182 - The drug Erina was working on is finally finished. Starting tomorrow I should be unable to produce voices. How do I feel about this? Honestly I don't want to go through with this drug, I know I said I would do it but.... I'll have a talk with dad, Erica is hard to deal with.

Day 183 - My dad agreed with me, thinking it was inhumane to subjugate his own daughter to an experimental drug. I am glad he understood my feelings but things ended remaining the same. Dad was a fool to tell Erina about our conversation. Thanks to her persuading, dad changed his mind on the matter completely. For a man, he has no backbone when speaking to his wife. Coward, I hate him.

I hate him!

I hate him!

I want to leave this house, I won't accept a punishment coming from that whore!

Day 185 - I deserve this. As punishment for my crimes I decided to accept Erina's drug. It is the least I can do to atone. Sora will no longer see the light of day because of me. Apologies can't erase the sorrow in Erina and dad's hearts. In order to let them feel better, I'll put myself through hell.

Day 186 - Still can't believe Sora is dead. It feels so lonely without him.

I closed the diary after hearing the sound of Aoi's sheet moved. Aoi forgot to write the events that transpired on Day 184, whatever happened that day must have changed her thinking drastically. At first she was against taking this drug but after Sora's death, she's suddenly okay with taking it.

Who is this Sora person?

What drug is Aoi talking about?

This drug is responsible for her lack of speech most likely. I better leave her room before I get found out. Aoi would lose lots of respect for me if she knows I was reading her diary.

The next morning it was revealed how Aoi cooks despite having no ingredients. A delivery man visits her apartment 6am three times a week to deliver paid goods. This way she never has to enter a store and have a conversation with the cashier, it's the best way to avoid that situation. Around 9am when we finished breakfast, Aoi wanted to know how long I'll be staying with her.

"I'm leaving pretty soon. I have to get myself ready for tomorrow after all".

Aoi then surprised me by showing her diary out in the open. Before she addressed the book, she slightly lifted her shirt. The bruises she received on her waist and stomach, I can only imagine that's what she wants to show me. "Where did you get those bruises?" I asked her. This is when she finally opened her diary, she handed it to me after locating a specific page.

Day 318 - Erina dislikes when I play mom's instruments in the house. What should I do? I feel guilty for not holding an instrument this very moment. The school's music room is an option but I'm worried, the teachers tend to complain alot. I'll find a way.....I hope

Day 319 - I arrived home this evening shocked to see my mom's piano, violin, drums and guitars being thrown outside. Erina and dad said they needed space but that's a lie. They just hate to have my mom's belongings in their house. I was especially pissed off at dad for letting this happen. Didn't he love my mom? In any case I ended up having to send Erina to the hospital. Pleasure was all I felt when I slapped her repeatedly. My only regret is that mom's drumsticks are broken.

Day 320 - For what I did to Erina, dad retaliated by giving me a hard time. This morning, by just opening the fridge dad slapped me with his hose. Thanks to that I'm scared to open the fridge. Later today I was stomped on by dad after asking him Erina's condition. I sorta had that one coming. I thought Erina was the thorn at my side but reality finally hit me. Dad wants to start a new with someone else. To him I'm just a product of the past.

According to this diary, Aoi was abused for a week straight before the police finally intervened. Her dad was not charged or arrested unfortunately so she continues to live a hard life with her guardians. "Aoi, I saw a knife under your pillow last night. Do you ever have to protect yourself late at night?". She nodded yes in reply. I have learned a lot about her today. Her parents sounds like the worst and it's confirmed that she's punishing herself for a person named Sora. The punishment being losing her voice.

"I'll help you in anyway I can Aoi. We're friends now, I can't have you living like this forever". Aoi closed her diary then sighed at my claim. After that she pointed at the door telling me it's time to leave. I took no offense to this, she must want to do something in private before the day ends and I'm in the way. This is perfect actually, I still have a lot of time before the day ends. I should give Takeshi a visit today.

"See ya Aoi. Take care".

.....

When I arrived home after a long day, I felt relieved. Aoi did not lose her innocent over the weekend, I definitely planned it as a possibility but I'm glad it didn't happen. Earlier today I asked Takeshi what his thought process was for assaulting Aoi. Turns out he's dumber than I imagined. He never realised I was the one who manipulated his actions, guess things can stay this way... for now.

As I opened my apartment door, I heard voices from the inside. Voices that were all too familiar. I rushed into the living room surprised to see two girls chatting.

Kaede was surprisingly in my room, along with a girl I haven't seen for months. She practically disappeared out of my life, but there she is sitting around my table.

"Hi Victor, Sorry we barge in your room without permission" Kaede quickly apologizes.

"No Kaede, you shouldn't apologise. He's the jerk that never came back home last night. It had us worried right? We should punish him!". The girl who just spoke had the same features as I. Short blue hair, blue glaring eyes and brown complexion. Zoey Cruez, my sister who is one year younger than me. Despite her being 15, she is a university student that strives to be a chef. From as long as I can remember, Zoey's cooking are the only meals I enjoyed eating.

"Kaede should not be here but..... Zoey! What makes you suddenly appear in my room" I asked.

My sister casually ignored my question then held Kaede's blonde hair. "Kaede, now that we know he's safe and sound. Let's ditch him! I have two tickets to the movies. Wanna come?.

A sister I haven't seen for almost a year, doesn't even want to spend time with me. That's expected of her. "You two please get out".

While the exited, Kaede stopped to wish me luck. "Good luck on this week's Monthly Challenge. I'll be taking control of my classmates that day". With a slight smile, she closed the door behind her.

Kaede leading Class 1A during the monthly challenge. I can assume she's a capable student then, a smart and popular student. It's a good thing I already know her weakness, Otherwise she might have been an actual threat.