Chapter 48: Kaasan's Call

"Your mom?" Ema covers her mouth. "Were you expecting a call from her?"

"No. I wasn't." That makes this all the more concerning. I'd messaged her that I was going out with friends today, so she wouldn't call to interrupt without a reason.

"I'm sorry, but I think I need to take this." I stand and make for the door. 

"If you want you can take the call here," Natsume offers. He opens the sliding door to the balcony. "We'll give you privacy."

"Ah... okay. Thank you." I bow my head and scurry out onto the balcony. Natsume pulls the curtain a little, giving me a bit of extra privacy. "I won't be too long."

"Please don't rush on our account," Ema says. "I hope everything is okay."

"Me too." I shut the door and answer the call. "Moshi moshi?"

"Mai!" My mom's voice booms so loud I have to move my phone away from my ear. "Where were you? I've been trying to reach you all day!"

"Sorry, Kaasan. I turned my notifications off because I was seeing a friend?" 

"A friend? What friend?"

"Thanks, Kaasan. Ema-chan, remember? I told you I was going out today. What happened that you keep messaging me like this?"

I expect to hear menial complaints, something to do with trip details or how their hotel accommodations were messed up. 

But to my surprise—and horror—my mother bursts into tears. She sobs and snivels loudly on the other end of the line, and because I can't see her I can only freeze in panic. What in the world is going on?

"K-Kaasan? Are you okay? What happened?" I press the phone against my ear. "What happened? Is it you? Did something happen to you?"

My mother breaks down in response. I hear a loud thud, like she's hit the floor. My blood runs cold and goosebumps rise across my arms.

"Kaasan, what's wrong? Kaasan, say something! Can you take deep breaths and calm down?"

"M-Mai..."

"Deep breaths, Kaasan. In... out... Yeah, like that. Slowly."

I sink to the floor, gripping the edge of the railing for support. Below, people rush through the streets. A couple of them are staring upward, hopefully not at me. I don't need anyone to witness the crisis that's unfolding.

"Kaasan, are you okay now? Can you tell me why you're crying? Did something happen to Tousan?" I keep my voice as gentle as possible, but gentleness isn't my strong point. I hate being left in the dark, and my impatience is bound to show through.

My mother heaves another deep breath before sobbing heavily into the phone. Her raspy breaths only tell me the graveness of the situation.

"It's Shin!" she whimpers. "He's gone!"

A gasp escapes my throat and I nearly drop my phone. Catching myself, I grip the case harder and narrow my eyes. "What do you mean, 'he's gone'? Did he die? Kaasan, tell me he didn't die!"

I know me and Shin fight all the time when I'm home, but I never wanted him dead!

My throat clenches as a flurry of worse-case scenarios rushes through my mind. My previous apartment got flooded, something I thought only happened in anime. Anything could have happened. Shin could have been kidnapped or hit by a truck or been caught in a book avalanche...

"What? He didn't die. What are you saying, Mai?" My mother pauses her crying. 

I wipe my nose. "You're the one crying like it's the end of the world," I retort. "I thought he'd been hit by a car or something! Don't scare me like, that, Kaasan."

"Sorry," comes her embarrassed apology. "He's not dead."

"Then what happened to him? You said he was 'gone.'"

"Y-Yes. Like I said, he's g-gone," Kaasan repeats. She's trying hard to steady her breathing, but it only seems to be making her more anxious. "He was supposed to go meet up with a friend of his today, s-so I went out to get the shopping. Your f-father is out with his f-friends, too, so I thought that Shin might have sneaked out with them afterward. But I c-called your father and he says he hasn't heard from Shin s-since this m-morning."

"Did you call Shin's friend? Was it Tanaka-kun he went to see?"

"Yes. And of course I called them!" Kaasan huffs defensively. "They haven't heard from Shin, either. In fact, they said he never even showed!"

Okay. I can see why that would be concerning. I think back to Shin and his friend Tanaka. My memories of them together are almost exclusively of them gaming or playing ball. They seemed to get along well, so it doesn't make sense why Shin would plan to see him and then never show. 

Goosebumps raise on my arms as it hits me that Kaasan is right to be worried. If he didn't go to Tanaka's and he didn't come home, then where is he?

Kaasan gathers herself as best she can. "Has Shin contacted you today?"

"He doesn't message me at all." As soon as I say it I realize how bad that sounds. "Oh, no, Kaasan, don't cry again." I rub my forehead, trying to think of what I can say to calm her down. "Look, I'll give him a call now, okay? I'll see if I can get through to him. Are you at home right now?"

Kaasan murmurs something. I take it that's a yes. 

"Okay. You call Tousan and tell him that I'll do what I can from my end. He can call the family and see if Shin's gone there. If he only disappeared today he can't have gone far."

"I-I'd actually been hoping he was with you," Kaasan says. "W-We had a fight the other day."

I jerk the phone away in time before my exasperated huff comes out. 

Tell me these things earlier! I want to shout. But getting upset about things won't help the situation, and my mother is already frantic enough. 

I clear my throat and return to the conversation. "What did you guys fight about?" Something from that time may give us clues as to where Shin went.

"It was about... about the past," Kaasan says cryptically. "About... his parents..."

I swallow. "Shin's parents?" 

"H-Hai."

I suck in a breath. "What did he say?" 

"Shin's always known. You know that," my mother cries. "We've always made sure the two of you know about where you come from. But I've always tried to make sure you know you're part of our family. You're our children and we love you."

Her voice cracks, and she's about to cry again. She can't fall to pieces now. I have to get the rest of the story before it's too late.

"Kaasan, can you tell me what exactly Shin said? I might be able to track him down based on that."

"H-He said... Well, he didn't say it exactly, but something happened at school. F-F-For that reason he was upset about not knowing who his real parents are. He just s-said he was going to Tokyo, but he didn't say if he was going to t-try looking for th-them, so I thought he was just going to see you. Oh, Mai, is it my fault? Did I do him wrong b-by not t-telling him more about his r-real p-parents?" 

Another thud. She's clasped down on something—the table maybe—and pressed her hand against her mouth to choke the sobs. 

Nothing but empathy should be filling my head right now, but all I can feel is anger. 

Shin, you moron! There are better ways to do this than breaking our mother's heart!

"I think I know where he's gone," I say slowly, the story revealing itself in my mind. "Kaasan, stay at home in case he comes back, and let Tousan know that I'll do what I can from my end. Can you do that?" 

"H-Hai."

"Okay, good. And make yourself some tea. You need to drink something. There's no point in getting dehydrated in this heat. You hear me, Kaasan?" 

"Who's the real kaasan here, huh?" she mutters sadly.

"You are, Kaasan. Don't even joke about that. Shin was wrong to say that, no matter what he's going through. Adolescence is no excuse to be mean."

"I-I might have been able to prevent this, but thank you anyway, Mai. I truly do love you and Shin as my children."

"I know, Kaasan. You're a great mother, too."

Right now, more than anything, she needs someone to be there with her. It pains me that I can't be by her side right now. I could hop on a train and be there in a couple of hours, but by then who knows where Shin will have gone off to? If my hunch is right then I'm more needed here. Kaasan should call Tousan and someone else to stay with her if she needs it. 

I know that this fight happened between Kaasan and Shin, but I've already told her I'd do what I could. I can't just pretend like this has nothing to do with me at all. 

While Shin's never run away before, I know he's had trouble at school for similar reasons. If what Kaasan told me is true, then I think I know what happened. 

After all, something like that once happened to me, too.

"I'm going to hang up now, okay, Kaasan? I'll tell my friends that I've got an emergency and go home. I'll let you know as soon as I hear from Shin. Can you ask Tousan to come home?"

"But he's been so looking forward to going out with his friends..."

"Kaasan, I'm sure he won't mind since it's Shin. Just explain it to him clearly."

She blows her nose and sniffs. "You're right. Thank you, Mai. You're a good daughter."

"And Shin's your son, no matter what stupid mistakes he makes, right?"

My mother finally laughs, a relieving sound to hear. "You're right. You're my children and you could never make me stop worrying about you."

"Good. I'll make sure to pound that into his thick skull."

"Don't beat him up too badly, Mai."

"I make no promises..." I stare up at the sky. The clouds have started together, but they're light grey. No signs of rain yet. "I'll call you when I know more, Kaasan. Call me if he comes home before then, okay?"

"Okay. I'll talk to you later, Mai."

I hang up first and slide my phone back into my pocket. For a moment I take a moment to process everything she told me:

My brother ran away from home. 

He had a fight with my parents. 

He probably got bullied in school. 

He might be on his way to Tokyo if he's not already here.

Why do I think that last part? 

Well, what other reason would he have to come to Tokyo of all places?

I check the time. 

When did I leave home, again?

I open my phone again and find Shin's number. The line rings, but I'm put through to voicemail. Hearing Shin's goofy recorded message on the other end does little to assuage my worries. Wherever he is he's not picking up, so he's either ignoring me or he's on another call. If it's the former I won't hold back my fury when I find him. 

"Listen, Shin. Our parents are worried sick about you. I'm out with friends now but I'm on my way back home. Call me when you get this..." I glance up at the sky again. "You better call me, do you hear? Call. Me."

I end the voice call.

With a lengthly sigh I pull myself up by the railing. If I ever wanted to get out of an awkward conversation this was not how I pictured doing it. 

Why of all times did Shin decide to do this now? Were things really getting that bad that he felt like he couldn't be at home?

We had a fight the other day. About... his parents.

My mother's words flash through my head. I know everyone's experiences are different, but I really don't know what to say about this. 

But if there's one thing I know it's that Shin doesn't know his way around Tokyo. All he might know is whatever route our parents planned out for their upcoming visit. He's never been motivated to research anything for himself, so he'll probably take whatever train they'd planned on taking. If I follow that route then he'll definitely end up...

"I know where he might be." 

There's no time to waste.

—————

I fling open the balcony door. Ema and the cats startle.

Sorry, neko-san and neko-san.

"Is everything okay, Mai-chan?" Ema's worried expression brings me back to earth. There are people who worry about me, too.

"Sorry, but I have to go," I say. "That was my mom. It's about Shin."

Ema gasps. "Is he okay?"

"I'm not sure." I glance stiffly at Natsume, who meets my eyes without hesitation. 

Swallowing, I turn back to Ema. "It sounds like he ran away from home."

"EH?" Ema cries. 

"Your brother ran away from home?" Natsume murmurs.

I nod. "But I think I know where he is. He's in Tokyo, that's for sure, but he doesn't know his way around, and he's terrible at directions."

Way worse than me, that's for sure.

"Is there anything we can do?" Ema asks. 

"It's alright, but thank you," I say. "I just need to get to Y Station. He's not picking up my calls, but if he left home when I think he left home he should be there about now."

Ema and Natsume exchange glances. 

I bow my head. "I'm sorry for leaving like this. Thank you very much for having me, Natsume-san. It's been a pleasure meeting your cats." I turn to the felines themselves. Tsubaki and Azusa have ended up sharing Ema's lap. Though squished and hanging off the edge of her thighs, they've settled things peacefully. "It was nice meeting you two. Tsubaki. Azusa."

"Do you want me to go with you?" Ema asks. She starts to stand, causing the cats to stir. 

"I can't ask you to do that for me. Y station isn't exactly close." I squeeze past Natsume and head toward the door. The two of them follow up behind me. I hear the cats protest as Ema gently slides them off of her. 

"You don't need to ask me," Ema says. She sits down next to me in the genkan and puts on her shoes. 

I pause. "Ema?"

She grips her shoes and faces me. "You've helped me when I needed it, Mai-chan. Now it's my turn to help you. Let's find Shin-kun."

Her words leave me speechless. I'd thought that now I'd moved out of her house that Ema and I wouldn't be seeing much of each other anymore, that the friendship we had wouldn't extend to helping me with this. 

"But you've helped me so much already," I say. "You let me stay at your house and gone with me to find a new place... I couldn't make you do any more for me."

"But I want to," she insists. Determination flares in her gaze. "Mai-chan, I won't assume I know what happened, but if it's to do with what you once told be about Shin-kun..." She lowers her eyes. "I think I can guess what may have happened."

My gaze drops to my own shoes. Now that I think about it, I did tell Ema about my brother, once. 

"I didn't know you remembered."

"Of course I remember," Ema says gently. She nudges my shoulder. "I went through something like this, too."

I give her a sad smile. "I remember. You told me about it once, too."

Ema seems relieved that we understand each other. "If I can be honest, I'm not sure how much I'll be able to help, but I can be there for you if you need me. Friendship isn't about paying each other back. It's about giving and receiving when we need it most. I know you'd do the same for me."

I close my mouth. She's right. I still feel guilty about accepting Ema's help, but in dire times it doesn't matter who's helping whom. All that matters is that I have someone whom I can count on without needing to ask.

And on a more rational note, it'll take me a good thirty minutes to get to Y Station, so having someone with me who can help keep me calm would be a big help.

"Thank you, Ema-chan." I clutch her hand. "I'd be happy if you came with me."

Warmth floods my chest, and the fact that I have such a wonderful friend gives me hope that everything will be okay. 

"Sorry, Natsume-san." Ema looks over her shoulder to her brother. He stands behind us before the genkan, looking over us with a concerned frown. "We have to go pick up Shin-kun first."

"It's okay," Natsume says. He shoves his hands into his pocket, but I can see them fidgeting. It seems he wants to say something but is holding back. He must be surprised about the two of us making him host us and then having to leave so abruptly. I'm grateful he doesn't take it badly. If anything, I bet he's relieved to have the rest of the weekend to himself. 

"Ready, Ema-chan?" I strap my sandals on and stand.

"Hai." Ema leaps up beside me.

She reaches for the door handle and steps aside to let me go ahead. 

I'm about to leave the room, but that's when Natsume places his hand over Ema's to stop her. 

"Wait," he says. "I'm coming with you."