Chapter 2

Kanryou was sipping his coffee when the nurses changed their course from recipe sharing to some gossip. He wonders who this Tamaki girl they talk about is; endless information flows from the heated-up conversation, and it's hard to keep up as they don't even wait in turn to contribute to the talk. One thing Kanryou can make up immediately is how much hatred--or perhaps anger--from how they describe her. Whatever this random Tamaki girl did to these thirsty women, he doesn't think she will get out in one piece. He is kind of worried about her safety, wherever she currently is.

Hearing them gives him an unnecessary headache, so he stays away while praying for that Tamaki girl.

"Ah, you're here? Sorry, I was talking to a patient."

It was faint, but the farther he walked, the more he heard someone talking. Kanryou glances at the corner of the corridor and sees one of the nurses he worked with a few weeks back, Haruna-san, talking on the phone.

"What are you saying, geez? Wait for a moment, okay? I'll go down soon. Don't hide in the corner just because you saw someone you know. You're a big boy already."

Kanryou involuntary smiles. Watching a parent gently scold their kid for something menial strangely warms his heart. Perhaps, as he works in this kind of environment where glooms and brights take turns faster than he inhales, any familial bond he witnesses becomes a small healer.

“Stop being so--Sigh, alright… I'm sorry, okay?"

From a safe distance, Kanryou watches her while sipping his coffee. They only work together for a few weeks and rarely talk outside their shift. He has no idea about the life she lives on aside from her divorce status and her relationship with one of the lab's nurses. Not like he cares about her personal life, and he thinks eavesdropping like this is improper, yet he remains in his spot despite not openly making himself known. Haruna is just one of many mothers he encounters in his career, so he has no particular attachment toward her. Supposedly so.

"Mm, wait for me. Don't move anywhere."

Before Kanryou had the chance to show himself, Haruna had already hung up and left using the other end of the corridor. Her steps echoed in the stairs, Kanryou listening to the sound getting fainter and farther before the silence took over. Invariably, the sudden liveliness and eerie silence drag each other like this.

Even so, Kanryou enjoys it; the high pace. People won't believe someone looking so down-to-earth and seems ready to reach out to everyone in need to turn out to be a pretty competitive young man with a burning passion. He knows how to behave; thus, he keeps that blazing fire so, so close to his heart. He knows how to look for a perfect opportunity, when to seize his chance, and strikes while the iron is still hot. Kanryou isn't impulsive, but his opportunistic side probably doesn't sit well with many people.

And that's why he keeps his desire low, hidden from peering gaze.

Just because it's low doesn't mean it's not there.

When he looks at his wristwatch, his break is almost over. The paper cup in his hand had long emptied when he was busy dozing off. The sight he saw before, about Haruna and her unseen child, is still playing in his mind, still picking his curiosity. Well, building a good relationship with his colleague is something he needs to do, so getting close to her doesn't hurt. Perhaps, he will have a chance to chitchat with her later on. After all, they work in the same place.

-I wonder what kind of person her child is-

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Seishichi Haruna isn't that old, but when it comes to the gap between her generation to Eiharu's, there are so many things she can't understand no matter how much she tries to. Since she is comfortable enough to live with her current knowledge and whatever upbringing she has had since she was a child, as long as she can live happily with her only son, she doesn't really bother with anything else.

The thing is, she's still unaware of how vast the difference is between her peers and her kids. How she sees something is pronely different from Eiharu's vision. She is used to working hard to live. Thus she can't understand why Eiharu refuses to put effort into his daily needs. She doesn't understand why Eiharu is so content with lying down or sitting in front of his computer all day.

"Are you staying up late again in front of your computer?"

'I have deadlines.'

"You always say that, but what are you working on, actually?"

'I told you a lot of times, but you never understand anyway.'

"Then say in a way I can understand. Eiharu, it's unhealthy."

'Why did you call?'

Haruna inhales. That tone again, that forced shift of topic with a cold voice while talking to her, his mother, as if she is one of the kids he has spoken to on the internet. Ah, Haruna finds this disrespect so repulsive, but right now isn't the right time to fight over something trivial.

"I texted you, but you didn't reply."

'I read it already. There is still time, don't worry.'

"But you haven't slept. How are you going to stay in the kitchen like that?"

'Not my first time.'

"Eiharu, watch your words."

'I only said it's not my first time skipping sleep. Why am I in the wrong now? Do you want me to bring you something or not?'

Haruna wants to avoid catching another banter. Both of them are light sleepers, and they have a similar tendency to get snarky. Haruna doesn't want to admit it, but he takes that after her so well.

"Okay, fine. Just make something easy and fast. If you're sleepy, you don't have to bring them here today."

'I'll see it later.'

Just like that, he hung up.

Haruna stared at the phone screen until it automatically turned off, pondering what she had done wrong this time. Her conversation with Eiharu revolves around what kind of lunch she and her coworkers want him to make, or if he spends his day sitting in front of his computer until late. While she wishes for him to be more approachable, Eiharu doesn't seem like he wants to stay engaging.

Not just once or twice she thinks Eiharu hates her for what happened. Her apology doesn't help him improve, but she is also unsure how to respond to… things. All she knows is Eiharu's mind isn't right, but that's all. Why, since when, how, what, she doesn't understand the rest of it.

"Kids these days don't know how to behave in front of their elders." She grumbles.

"Did something happen?"

When she raises her head, a handsome visage appears in her vision feels like a fresh wind to her upset mind.

“Ah… Good morning, Yukisada-kun.”

"Good morning, Seishichi-san." Kanryou smiles while filling in his attendance. "It's so early for a deep crease between your eyebrows."

"Sorry, you have to see it…."

"Don't worry too much. I just happened to hear your grumble, so... did something happen?"

"Not work-related, just…." Haruna sighs again, "I wonder if I am a bad mother."

"Why do you think so?"

"My son… he keeps making the distance between us no matter how hard I try. It feels like he doesn't want anything to do with me."

Kanryou knows nothing about Haruna's family. Without a proper context, he isn't sure what kind of encouraging words he needs to say. Still, he knows the boundary not to stick his nose where it doesn't belong.

"Well… kids are like that, I guess?" In his head, he imagines Haruna's son to be a teenager in his rebellious phase; at least, that's what he grasps from how she speaks about him and the eavesdrops from a few days ago. "I am not trying to condone his behavior or something, but we all have that rebellious moment."

"I'm aware. And that kid is a late bloomer, so… perhaps I am the one being impatient."

"Did he say anything bad to you? Cursing at you, perhaps?"

"No, never." Haruna quickly shakes her head. "I mean, his tone is mostly blunt and almost rude, but he never says anything bad. I never even hear him cursing. Rather, he is too silent. He doesn't speak much about his thoughts, so I don't know what's inside his head."

"Maybe he needs his space."

"I give him too much space already. He should be talking to me if anything bothers his mind, but no. Whenever he feels something is off, he locks himself inside his room, that kid…."

Kanryou says nothing. In a way, Haruna is just your typical Asian mother with their obliviousness over boundaries. It's not something Kanryou can fix. While he understands her stance, he also feels sympathy toward her son. As a kid, we rely on our parents too much. But being so dependent will become our demise if our thoughts are never aligned. After all, it's hard to look at each other at the same eye level. The invisible gap between children and their parents is that big.

"Ah, it's already this late. Sorry for holding you up and making you listen to my rambling, Yukisada-kun. Don't worry about me. You better hurry."

"I don't mind listening." Kanryou smiles again. He really needs to go since he already has an appointment. "Feel free to talk to me when you need it."

.

.

It's fifteen minutes into the lunch break when Kanryou leaves his office. Since he had a big breakfast that morning, he doesn't feel like eating any. Another cup of coffee he has that day becomes his only solitude despite the scolding from his assistant. Today will be a long day; his guts tell him that. And a single cup of coffee won't be enough to make him last until night.

As he silently walks towards the emergency exit, he hears a murmur from a distance, getting clearer the closer he walks towards the door. The heavy metal panel makes a loud squeak as he swings, and the person at the other side of the door surely notices his presence.

It's Haruna currently talking on the phone, again.

Kanryou bows at her while sliding to the other side of the stairs, giving her some space to do her business. Her voice echoes; no matter how low she tries to speak, he can still hear the content of her talk. It's not a secret, for sure, just a light exchange between her and--he guesses--his son. Unlike a few days ago when she looked rather solemn and impatient, she is gentler this time. Kanryou ended up watching her more, seeing how the happy smile and a chuckle followed by is warmly carved on her motherly face.

When she hangs up, Haruna bows as a late greeting in return for the bow he did.

"Your kid?"

"Yes. I asked my son to prepare lunch for us, and he sulked because it took me so long to meet him in the lobby."

"Us?"

"Yes, we nurses. He is a decent cook, Yukisada-kun, so I told him to make lunches or dinners for us from time to time. It might not be many, but he can use the money to buy snacks or something." Unlike how she speaks this morning, her tone carries pride as she speaks about her son.

"Oh… shouldn't you go and see him, then?"

"He already left for a while. I called him to let him know I already got the boxes."

"Ah, I see." Kanryou ponders for a moment. A skilled teenager is common, but isn't he supposed to be at school around this hour? How does he even have the time to cook? "Seishichi-san, if you don't mind me asking… how old is your son?"

"He's 27 years old this year."

"Eh?"

Haruna can tell the surprise on Kanryou's face, but she doesn't explain more. She looks up to the sky as if recalling an unfortunate event in the past.

"... don't you need to get lunch, Seishichi-san? The break is almost over." As curious as he is, right now is not the time to dig into such a delicate matter. "Though if you want to stay here, of course…."

“Thank you, Yukisada-kun.” She smiles faintly. "Honestly, I thought you would ask more, but you didn't."

"I don't think it's appropriate."

"Really? Whoever heard about him normally asked what happened." She exhales, "Yeah, they all asked the same thing and then said more things like… what I should do as a mother to educate a misbehaving kid. No one thinks it was inappropriate."

"I don't think he's misbehaving."

"How so?"

"Well… I don't know what happened to him. And because I don't know, it's not my place to comment about what he or you should do."

Haruna looks at him profoundly. This young, handsome doctor she worked with was quite famous among the young staff. They say, not only is Kanryou well-mannered and gentle, but he also treats everyone with great care. Patients, the Board members, medical staff, and even hard-labor workers, have heard how he behaves so well no matter who he is facing. Once on a team with him, Haruna can say Kanryou is as good as the gossip about him goes.

-If only Eiharu had a little bit of his quality-

As much as he loves Eiharu, the thoughts simply occur. But it's not because Haruna regrets having Eiharu as a son. It's more of her regret for being a failure. If she's a better mother, perhaps Eiharu won't end up that way.

"You're… a good person, Yukisada-kun. If only my son had someone like you by his side."

"I'm happy you see me that way, Seishichi-san, but I'm probably not as good as you think. No one is 100% good or bad."

"I know, but… I was young once. I know youngsters shouldn't be alone."

Kanryou looks at her. "He… doesn't have a friend?"

Haruna shakes her head and says nothing more.

-An anti-social? Probably just socially awkward, but it escalated to a dangerous point-

Kanryou still has no idea about this mysterious son, and his curiosity increases noticeably.