Ch. 28 - Family home.

Later that day after everybody left the place, I stay upstairs with my father in his office. He was taking care of other documents on his desk while I handle the employment in a table in the other side of the room. It was quite and pleasant, the coffee cup I have at my side occasionally whiffs a smell of aroma in my nostrils. The rising of the moonlight coming from our window makes the room dim with only the old lamps providing us some light.

It was calming enough for me to actually concentrate on whom to consider working here, all of them are really just students who wants to work part time. I was the one who supervised Chinatsu and Ryota when they we're hired to work here, they've turn out great so my father trusted in me the supervision and management of employees, but he still gets the final word for it.

I've pick four people and suggested them to my father, he looks at it and agrees.

"Alright, we'll have them in here next week."

Masao said to his son.

"So, we're done?"

He asked.

"Yes, clean up a bit while and wait for me."

Masao added.

Akagi organized the rest of the folders he seek and put them back in place, he wents downstairs to check if everything is in good and safe condition before leaving. He hasn't checked his phone yet, he's still haunted by the fact that it was the first picture of him to be seen by his ex-in-game girlfriend, he was trying so hard to look calm and smart. Now he doesn't even know what to say to her especially now that she actually saw him in real life. He's curious and he is looking forward to go home and check Airi's messages. He feels terrified and embarrased but he tries remain calm and try not to overthink it.

While waiting for his father he entertains himself with the imagination of having the same muscular body structure like the really hot anime boys he watched and drew. He look under his shirt and his body is nearly there but his muscle outlines aren't as visible.

"Maybe because im not an anime character."

He said to himself, but he is ripped enough and his satisfied with it. He is thinking of renewing his gym membership card and start doing real workouts. He is motivated to see his body's full potential.

He snapped back to reality when he saw his stepmother's car pull over in front of the restaurant. He gets back upstairs and told his father that his wife is here.

"Alright just a minute!"

Masao shouted.

Akagi went back downstairs to greet his stepmom by the dining area.

"Hi, mom."

He blandly said.

Kanae smiled at the sight of his stepmom greeting ans calling her mom. Even though Akagi seems to lack the appropriate expression when he said it, she knows Akagi doesn't say things he didn't mean and he is always bland and stoic looking all the time. She hugs Akagi and went upstairs to see her husband.

Akagi just glance at her as she walks upstairs, he just leans on the wall right next to light switch. Waiting to turn it off once they get back down, a few minutes later and neither his father or mother got down yet. He decided to check up on them, but as he is midway in the stairs when he hears banging against the wall and voices of someone in pleasure and sweetness. He is old enough to know what exactly they're doing in there, he just scoffs knowing they would take a while before they can go home. He is actually happy because the act of them doing it means they're marriage is healthy, unlike his fathers previous marriage to his biological mother.

- Masao's house. -

After driving through the same quite streets to my fathers house which I haven't been to since a long time. Hopping out of the car in front of my fathers house as it stops, just the sight of his home brings back some memories. I use to live here, I was only learning and under apprenticeship to my father back then, technically I still am, but just by looking how far I developed from then to now just makes me feel like times flies so quick.

I just stood by the porch and wait for them to get inside before I go in. My father enters followed by my stepmother, I look around the neighborhood before entering and nothing seems to have change.

"Go change in your old room, we still kept it just the way it is."

My father told me.

"You too, dear. Head to our room and rest, I will prepare for tonights supper."

Kanae said to Masao.

"Are you sure you can do it alone, love?"

He asked.

"Sure! I can, you two needs to rest. I will call you when its ready."

She replied.

"You know what, let me he-"

"Shh~ You're tired just get some rest~"

Kanae puts her index finger in my fathers mouth and gently push him towards their bedroom, insistently telling him to rest. He looks worn out from work and from having fun with her. I stroll on the main hallway of the house towards my old room, it was empty and looks old before. Now there are alot of portraits and they also repaint the wall with light colors, I also notice the new carpet im stepping on. They actually redesign the house. I enter my old room and my things like my bed, desk, drawers and the posters I had on my wall are still there, but it looks alot cleaner. Im a bit touch that they still maintain my room even though I dont live here anymore. I didn't bother changing my clothes before falling into my bed. I just lay down and relax for a few moments before Airi come back into my mind. I lay down properly and pull out my phone.

I opened it and saw her messages.

[ Wait, let me ask something first! ]

[ Are you still there? ]

[ Im curious about something. ]

[ Hey, dont ignore me...]

[ Atleast tell me when you'll be back. ]

[ Alright, looks like you already left. ]

[ I'll wait for you! Bye~ ]

I check if she's online, but she's not. I guess I could answer the questions she left her...*Typing*...

[ Sorry I left, I have to get back to work, just ask me and I'll leave the answer here. Im not ignoring you but I really need to get back to work, im not sure when I'll be back. ]

After sending it I scroll down my social media sites to pass the time, I dont know whether to wait for my mother to finish cooking or to wait for her reply. I just want to clear any misunderstandings with her, I dont exactly care what she thinks about me sending it. But my main concern is she might report it to the police or create false rumours.

Not long after she already replied.

[ Oh, I see its that urgent. But are you free now? ]

Im wasn't even surprised at this point, she seems to be online for alot of times for a college student.

"Yes, im free now."

I replied. I opened the app again and start a chat with her.

Airi : "Hello~ its me again."

Akagi : "How's it going?"

Airi : "Im doing fine, I guess."

Akagi : "Glad to hear it."

Airi : "How about you?"

Akagi : "Im honestly tired because of work, but im used to it. Overall im okay."

Airi : "If you're tired maybe now its not the right time for us to talk."

Akagi : "No its fine, we can talk now."

I never thought I'd be talking to her again after breaking up with her. We have some things in common and almost in the same ordeal, we talk about personal stuff and I remembered it was the reason I actually stayed for a while. However its also the reason why I dont want to encounter her again, but I dont have a choice I need to defend my name.

I waited for a few minutes and she hasn't responded yet, maybe she also didn't expect to see me again and so she is not sure what to say. I took the initiative and try to smoothly start a conversation.

"Look, im sorry about the break up. I know the last time we talk I left you some what devastated."

I told her.

"No, its okay. I am over it now."

...

"Although I did feel lonely after that, we talk about alot about ourselves back then, so I feel like a vacuum was created inside me after you left."

She added.

"Well I never expected you to take that seriously, so that's one of the main factors I left. I didn't wanna tell you the exact reason why I have to leave you."

I replied.

"I dont wanna talk about that, lets focus more on reason why I wanna talk to you again." Her words sends chills down my spine. She seems focused on something else, I never thought I'd be messaging her again after our so called "Breakup". Yet here I am, confronting her.