Her dairy: the symbol of love they shared

A funeral was taking place, and in the coffin lay a beautiful young girl. The atmosphere was silent and somber. As her body was lowered into the ground, one by one, everyone left the graveyard, except for a man who approached the grave. His face was expressionless, and his eyes showed no emotion. He placed a flower on the grave and stood there, unmoving.

Suddenly, a middle-aged man appeared, his face twisted in grief and anger. "You're the reason my daughter is dead!" he shouted, throwing the flower at the expressionless man. "Get out! Don't show any sympathy now!"

The old man tried to approach the expressionless man, but was held back by another man. The young man's face remained blank, his eyes empty. "I'm sorry, Mr. Nakahara," he said, his voice barely audible. "I won't bother you anymore."

With that, he turned and walked away from the grave, leaving the grieving father and the other man behind.

He was about to enter the car when a gentle voice stopped him. "Ryu, stop." He turned back to see a middle-aged lady holding a box and walking towards him. "I won't bother you again, Mrs. Nakahara," Ryu said, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Ryu, please don't blame yourself," she said, her face clouding with sadness. "Yui cannot rest in peace if you continue like this."

Ryu stared at her for a few seconds before getting into his car. "Ryu, actually, I want to give you this," she said, holding out the box. "These are Yui's things, including your gifts and letters, and a few of her belongings."

Ryu hesitated for a moment before taking the box. "Mr. Nakahara, I-"

"Don't say no, please take it for Yui's sake," she interrupted.

Hearing Yui's name, Ryu took the box and placed it in the car. "Thank you, Mrs. Nakahara. I will keep it with me," he said without expression and got into the car.

"Ryu," she called out as he was about to close the door. "Please take care of yourself." He nodded and closed the door, then drove away.

Ryu drove the car to a grand mansion, the vehicle disappearing into the underground parking lot. He stepped out of the car and into the elevator, the box clutched tightly in his hand. The elevator doors slid open, revealing a grand, furnished living room.

A middle-aged man sat on the couch, his eyes fixed on Ryu with a mixture of anger and disdain. A man in his 30s stood nearby, holding a tablet and watching Ryu with a curious expression.

"So, even after I told you a thousand times not to attend her funeral, you still didn't listen," the old man spat, his voice icy.

"You've done enough damage already.Now please let, leave me alone"

Ryu's eyes flashed with anger, but he didn't respond. Instead, he turned and walked away, heading for the stairs. "Ryu, remember, love is a luxury we can't afford," the old man called after him.

Ryu ignored him and continued up the stairs. He walked down a long hallway, passing by several doors before stopping in front of one that was slightly ajar. He pushed the door open and stepped inside.

A maid was sitting in a chair beside a bed, where a 10-year-old girl lay with a cloth covering her forehead. The maid stood up as Ryu entered, a look of concern on her face.

"How is she?" Ryu asked, his voice low.

"Miss Akira is fine now," the maid replied, her eyes darting to Ryu's face before quickly looking away.

Ryu nodded and turned to leave. "Hmm," he muttered to himself as he walked away.

He entered a nearby room, placing the box on a table near the couch. Then, he walked into the bathroom, closing the door behind him. As the water began to fall, Ryu's tears finally began to flow, streaming down his face as he mourned the loss of Yui.

After 30 minutes, he came out of the bathroom, a towel wrapped around his waist. He went to the closet, took out a pair of t-shirts and lowers. After getting dressed, he lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling.

After some time, his eyes wandered to the gun on the nightstand. He took it and raised his hand, placing the gun to his forehead. "Yui," he whispered. He played the gun on his forehead and closed his eyes, his finger hovering over the trigger.

He was about to press the trigger when "Oni-chan" echoed in his mind, and the same girl's face came into his thoughts. His eyes snapped open. "What was I doing? Akira needs me. I can't leave her."

He closed his eyes again, and after some time, he opened them. He turned to the table where the box was sitting and stared at it for a while. Then, he got up from the bed and went to it.

He looked at the box, his voice barely above a whisper. "Yui." He sat down on the couch, opened the box, and found it full of items like books, a necklace, jewelry, chocolate wrappers, airport watches, hair accessories, and a mini purse.

He took out one item at a time, his eyes scanning each object. Suddenly, his gaze landed on a diary. He put everything else back in the box, leaving only the diary.

***********

Yui stood before Ryu, her gun trembling in her hand. Ryu's clothes were drenched in blood, and tears streamed down Yui's face. "I... am... so sorry, Ryu," she whispered, her voice cracking. A faint smile crossed her lips as she pulled the trigger.

"BANG!"

"YUI!"

Ryu's eyes snapped open. It was just a dream. He took a deep breath, his voice barely audible. "Yui..." His gaze fell upon the diary on the table, and memories of Yui flooded his mind. Her flowing brown hair, beautiful blue eyes, and bright smile haunted him.

Ryu composed himself, taking another deep breath. He got dressed, slipping the diary into his blazer's inner pocket. Ryu stepped out of his room and walked down the hallway, stopping outside Akira's door. As he entered, Akira sat up, her eyes fixed on him.

"Good morning, Nii-chan," Akira said, looking at Ryu.

"Morning, Akira," he replied, his voice barely above a whisper. He sat down in the chair beside her bed.

"Did you take your medicine?" he asked. Akira shook her head, remaining silent.

"Akira, you need to take your medicine on time," Ryu reminded her gently.

Akira stayed silent, looking down. Ryu sighed. "Okay, did you have breakfast?" he asked, but she shook her head again.

"How will you get better if you don't eat or take your medicine on time? Aki, what are you thinking?" Ryu's voice was barely audible, his eyes filled with concern.

Akira's eyes welled up with tears. "Y-Yui..." she burst out, sobbing uncontrollably.

Ryu pulled her into a gentle hug. "Akira, ssh... don't cry, please be quiet," he whispered.

But Akira only cried harder, her body shaking. "I-it h-happened because of me..." she stammered.

Ryu's shirt became soaked with her tears. "I'm sorry, Nii-chan... it happened because of me..."

He rubbed her back and looked at the maid. "Get the breakfast right now." The maid bowed and left the room.

He looked at Akira. "Nothing was your fault. Don't blame yourself." His voice was gentle.

"B-but"

"No, but if you stay like this, then Yui will be sad. Did you want her to be sad in the afterlife too?" She shook her head .

Just then, the maid entered with a tray of bread, butter, and jam, and a glass of milk. She set it near the bed. Akira just stared at it.

"You can't eat by staring. Get it," he said, handing it to her. She took bites slowly. "Please, you eat also," she said.

He took a slice of bread slowly, and they both finished eating. He gave her a pill and then a glass of water. "Take a rest. I will be back by evening." She nodded.

He stroked her hair and moved out. The maid followed him. "Take care of her," he said, and she nodded. He walked downstairs.

Downstairs, the same two men from yesterday were waiting. The old man stared at Ryu. "Ryu, I hope you didn't forget about the meeting."

"Meeting?" Ryu replied, his expression blank.

"Even after her death, that girl is still a problem," the old man said irritably. "That bi-"

"Mr. Kenji Watabane, if you speak one more word, I'll forget that you're my father," Ryu warned, his expression darkening.

The other man, sensing the tension, intervened. "Sir, I think we should leave. It's getting late," he said to Kenji.

"Who gave you permission to speak?" Kenji snapped at his assistant, Taro. "Be in your limit."

"S-sorry, sir," Taro stuttered, his voice trembling. "But we are getting late, sir."

"Okay, but Ryu, forget that dead girl and focus on the company," Kenji said with a dark and angry expression. He then walked towards the main door. "Now, are you not getting late, Taro?"

"C-coming, sir," Taro replied, following Kenji out.

Ryu stood still for a moment, then left with a blank expression on his face.

As evening fell, a car entered the garage and parked. Ryu stepped out and walked to the elevator. He entered it and pressed the button for the ground floor. When the elevator opened, Ryu saw his father on the couch, talking to Taro. Ryu ignored them and walked upstairs.

He stopped by Akira's room to take a look at her. As he entered, he saw her sleeping, hugging a pillow. Ryu looked at the maid seated near the bed. "Did she eat well today?" Ryu asked the maid in a low voice, checking Akira's temperature.

"Yes, sir. She had all her meals and taken her medicine on time, but..." The maid paused.

Ryu's eyes narrowed. "But what?"

"She was asking for you, sir," the maid replied in a single breath.

Ryu thought for a moment before speaking. "Did she have dinner?"

"No, sir. She's been sleeping for an hour."

Ryu nodded. "Bring our dinner here. I'll be back soon."

With one last look at Akira, Ryu turned and left. The maid bowed. "Yes, sir."

Ryu walked out of Akira's room and made his way to his own. He entered his room and headed straight to the bathroom. After a few minutes, he emerged, refreshed, and walked towards his closet.

Meanwhile, Kenji entered the dining hall, where he spotted Akira's maid carrying a tray filled with a meal. "For whom are you taking this?" Kenji demanded in his usual cold and loud voice.

The maid bowed nervously. "Young Master Ryu asked me to bring dinner to Miss Akira's room," she replied in a shaking voice.

Kenji's expression turned irritated. "So now he can't even face me?" he sneered. "That boy," he hissed, his eyes narrowing at the maid. "What are you waiting for? Go! Or he'll think I stopped you."

The maid hastened to obey. "Y-yes, sir," she stuttered, rushing out of the dining hall.

She entered Akira's room, where Ryu was seated in a chair beside Akira's bed. The maid served dinner, and an uncomfortable silence fell between them as they ate.

Once they finished, the maid collected the plates and cleaned up. Ryu gave Akira a pill, which she swallowed with a sip of water. He then helped her into bed and pulled up the blanket.

"Good night," Ryu said softly, gently stroking Akira's hair.

As her eyes began to droop, Akira whispered, "Nii-chan..."

Ryu's voice was soft and caring. "Please take care of yourself."

Akira's voice was barely audible. "I will."

********

Ryu sat in his room, staring blankly at the diary on his lap. He poured himself a glass of whiskey and downed it, the liquid burning his throat, but it was nothing compared to the throbbing headache that had been plaguing him.

As he reached for the bottle to pour another glass, a memory flashed in his mind. Yui stood before him, taking the bottle from his hand. "If you drink more than two glasses a day, I won't talk to you," she said with a stern expression.

Ryu's gaze lingered on the bottle, and he remembered Yui's words. He set the bottle aside, his eyes drifting back to the diary.

Just then, his phone rang, breaking the silence. The caller ID displayed "Dr. Haruno." Ryu's expression turned cold as he answered the call.

"Hello, Ryu Watabe," he said in a low, even tone.

"Mr. Watabe, it's Dr. Haruno," the voice on the other end replied.

Ryu's voice remained detached. "Yes, Doctor. Why did you call me?"

Dr. Haruno's voice was laced with urgency. "Actually, it's about Miss Nakahara."

At the mention of Yui's name, Ryu's demeanor changed, his voice taking on a hint of curiosity and demand. "What about her?"

Dr. Haruno hesitated before speaking. "I had just checked her medical history, and according to one test, she had a brain tumor."

Ryu's eyes widened in shock as he processed the doctor's words.

"Mr. Watabane?" Dr. Haruno's voice cut through the silence.

Ryu's voice was barely above a whisper. "Is... Is this really true?"

Dr. Haruno's response was somber. "Yes, the test report confirms it."

Ryu's mind reeled as he asked, "Did you inform her parents?"

Dr. Haruno's voice was laced with concern. "No, I thought it best to inform you first. They're already grieving over her death, and I'm not sure how this news would affect them."

Ryu's voice was devoid of emotion. "Thank you, Doctor."

He hung up the phone, his gaze drifting back to the diary. A mix of emotions swirled within him as he whispered to himself, "So you knew you were going to die... That's why you shot yourself... You knew you wouldn't live long."

Ryu's eyes narrowed, his voice taking on a hint of determination. "How many more secrets do you have?

He took the dairy began to open it . And read first entry.

Dear Diary,

I am Yui Nakahara, a last-year middle school student preparing for the high school entrance test. Yesterday was my 16th birthday, and you were gifted by my elder brother, who is really a bookworm. He is a university student at Tokyo Elite Academy in the philosophy department, a perfect subject for someone like him.

My dream high school is Royal Tokyo High. There are only two ways to get admission there: first, by entrance test, a student has to get a minimum of 90 out of 120; and the second is to be from a powerful and influential family. I have to try the first way; I am not that good, but with the help of my bookworm brother, I will at least hold a seat. Well, that's all for today. Really, writing a diary is not bad at all.

Bye bye,

Your loving owner,

Yui

Ryu turned the page each was of how Yui spent her days preparing for the entrance test and hanging out with friends. His eyes fell on a particular entry.

Dear Diary,

I am very, very happy today! I made it to Royal Tokyo High! I still can't believe it - it's really like a dream come true. I couldn't have done it without my brother and parents; I'm so lucky to have their support.

Tomorrow is my first day of high school, and I'm very, very nervous. Who knows what the school holds for me? But I know one thing - Royal Tokyo High will change my life.

Bye bye,

Your loving owner,

Yui

As he read, a small smile crept onto his face. "Not only yours," he whispered to himself, "but Royal Tokyo High changed my life too."

Six years earlier

Yui was in her room, combing her hair. "Yui, you're going to be late for school on your first day!" her mother's voice called out from downstairs.

Yui tied her hair in a ponytail. "Coming, Mom!" she cried, grabbing her bag and running downstairs to the dining table.

"You're going to be late on your first day of high school," her mother scolded.

"Not just late, but she's going to be mocked too," her brother Jin added.

"Jin, what are you talking about?" Yui pouted, asking.

"Look down," Jin pointed his finger to her feet. She was wearing different socks. Her face turned bright red with embarrassment. She ran back to her room.

"This silly girl, what should I do with her?" her mother said, exasperated.

"Don't worry, Mom. She's just growing up," Jin said, placing a hand on her shoulder and smiling slightly.

After a while, she came out of the house and walked to the gate. "Ah, I'm going to be late on the first day only," she whispered to herself, her stomach growling with hunger. "I didn't get a chance to have breakfast too."

She walked out of the gate, and suddenly a car stopped in front of her. The passenger-side door opened. "Get in, Yui, if you don't want to be late," Jin said, who was sitting on the driver's side.

She got in and put on her seatbelt. "Aren't you going to be late for university?" she asked.

Jin started the car. "Ah, yes, but I'll manage. Take this, you must be hungry," he said, giving her a sandwich.

Yui's face lit up with joy like a child's. She took the sandwich and ate it in one go. "Thank you."

Jin looked at her and smiled while driving.

The car stopped at the gate of the school, which was surrounded by students chatting and walking into the building. Yui got out of the car. "Best of luck, little sis," Jin said to her.

"Thank you, big bro," she smiled, giving a thumbs-up sign and showing her teeth. Suddenly, the school bell rang. "Oh no, I'm late!" she yelled. "Bye, bye, Jin!" With that, she ran into the school.

Ryu looked at her and chuckled. "This girl."

Yui stopped outside the door of class 1-A, which was already open. She was breathing heavily, and everyone inside was staring at her. Yui noticed them and forced a smile as she entered. "Good morning," she greeted, taking her seat near the window. "Very well, I embarrassed myself in front of everyone. This is the worst day of my high school life," she thought to herself.

Soon, the teacher entered, and everyone stood to greet her. "Good morning," everyone said. Yui was looking out the window when she heard a voice. "May I come in?" She turned her head, looking at Ryu, whose dark black hair and brown eyes stood out as he stood in the doorway.

He entered, saying, "I'm sorry for being late."

"It's okay, be careful next time," the teacher said. "Take a seat, please."

Ryu nodded and walked to an empty seat, passing by Yui. He took the seat behind hers, and she felt a strange aura from him. She shook her head and focused on what the teacher was saying.

"Good morning, everyone. Welcome to Royal Tokyo High School. For your information, Royal Tokyo not only focuses on academic excellence but also on extracurricular activities. I, Kiyoko Onabara, will be your homeroom class teacher for the next three years."

The students exchanged confused glances.

"If anyone has a question, please ask," Kiyoko invited.

A student raised his hand and spoke up, "What kind of extracurricular activities?"

Kiyoko smiled. "Excellent question. As you may know, while other high schools primarily focus on academic studies, Royal Tokyo places equal emphasis on etiquette, dance, sports, leadership, unity, cooking, art, and craft, among others."

As Kiyoko explained, the students listened intently, except for Ryu, who gazed out the window.

"You will also be required to pass in these skills," Kiyoko added.

Another girl raised her hand. "What do you mean by 'pass in these skills'?"

Kiyoko clarified, "According to our school's rules, you must pass in these extracurricular activities as well. Royal Tokyo aims to develop not only your mind but also your personality and shape you into a better person."

Kiyoko asked, "Are there any other questions?"

The students looked at each other, and when no one spoke up, Kiyoko continued, "Very well, then. Let's begin introducing ourselves."

As each student took turns introducing themselves, Yui grew increasingly nervous.

"Oh no, I didn't prepare anything! What will I say?" she thought to herself.

Just then, the girl sitting next to her nudged her. "Hey, it's your turn."

Yui's face turned bright red as she quickly stood up and blurted out, "My name is Yui Nakahara!"

Everyone stared at her.

Next, it was Ryu's turn. He stood up, his voice low and clear. "I am Ryu Watabane."

The class fell silent, with all eyes on Ryu.

Kiyoko forced a smile. "O-okay, next please."

Timeskip to Lunch

Yui sat alone in the cafeteria, nursing her lunch and berating herself mentally. "I'm really an idiot. I made a fool of myself twice already."

Just as she was starting to feel sorry for herself, a gentle hand touched her shoulder. She turned to see a girl from her class smiling at her.

"Hey, if you don't mind, can I join you?" the girl asked, her voice soft and polite.

Yui shrugged, feeling a little relieved at the interruption. "Yeah, sure. Why not?" She slid over to make room for the girl.

"I'm Emiko Matsumoto," the girl said, sitting down. "And you are...?"

"Yui... Yui Nakahara," Yui replied, feeling a little more at ease.

As they ate and chatted, Yui found herself feeling more comfortable around Emiko. They talked about everything from school to thier hobbies .

Before long, the bell rang, signaling the end of lunch. Yui and Emiko gathered their things and headed to their next class.

As they entered the classroom, Yui's eyes landed on Ryu, who was sitting in his usual seat, staring out the window with an air of quiet contemplation.

"Hey, was he here the whole time?" Emiko whispered to Yui, nodding towards Ryu with a knowing glance.

Yui whispered back, "He's really strange, isn't he?"

Emiko's expression turned sympathetic, her eyes filled with a deep understanding like she knows why is he like that . "You're right," she said softly.

Just then, their teacher's voice cut through the chatter. "What are you both doing in the doorway?"

"NOTHING!"

Yui and Emiko quickly took their seats, trying to compose themselves.

After school, Yui walked out of the school gates and made her way home. As she reached her house, she opened the door and called out, "I'm back, Mom!"

She removed her shoes and placed them in the shoe stand, then walked into the living room where her mother was waiting.

"Welcome back, dear," her mother greeted her, smiling. "How was your day?"

Yui shrugged, taking a seat next to her mother. "It was fine."

Her mother peeled an apple and handed Yui a slice. "Did you make any friends?" she asked.

Yui thought for a moment before responding, "Ah, uhm, yes... I made one."

Her mother's eyes lit up with interest. "Really? What's her name?"

"Emiko Matsumoto," Yui replied, taking a bite of the apple.

Her mother's expression turned thoughtful. "Matsumoto... isn't that the name of a restaurant?"

Yui's eyes widened in realization. "I didn't think of that."

Feeling a little self-conscious, Yui got up from her seat. "Really, I'm the odd one out in school," she thought to herself.

"I'm going to change, then I'll go to the cafe," she said aloud, heading upstairs to her room.

In her room, Yui dropped her bag and changed into a white turtleneck t-shirt and skirt.



She grabbed her handbag and headed downstairs to the shoe rack.

"I'm leaving, Mom," she called out, opening the door.

Her mother's voice came from the kitchen. "Take care, come back soon."

**********

Ryu entered the Watabane mansion, where he was greeted by the butler, Mr. Tanaka. "Welcome back, young master," Mr. Tanaka said with a deep bow. "I hope your day was good."

Ryu nodded, his voice low and firm. "Yes, it was fine."

He headed towards the stairs, and Mr. Tanaka followed. "Did you want any snacks, sir?" Ryu nodded again. "Just bring tea."

Ryu went directly to his room, dropped his bag, and headed to the bathroom. After a while, he came out wearing light brown shorts and a blue t-shirt.

He saw Mr. Tanaka setting tea and cookies on the table near the couch, which was beside his bed. Ryu's eyes landed on the cookies, and he looked at Mr. Tanaka. "Mr. Tanaka, I don't remember asking you to bring cookies."

Mr. Tanaka gave a soft, kind smile. "I thought you must be hungry."

Ryu cut him off. "Okay, pour the tea."

Mr. Tanaka took the teapot and began to pour tea into a cup. Ryu took the cup and took a sip. "Thank you, Tanaka. You may leave now."

Just then, six-year-old Akira burst into the room, shouting "Oni-chan!" loudly and jumping into Ryu's lap. She wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Oni-chan, you're drinking tea! I want some too, please!" she exclaimed.

Ryu smiled slightly. "Okay, okay."

He looked at Mr. Tanaka. "Mr. Tanaka."

Mr. Tanaka smiled and poured a cup of tea for Akira. "Here's your tea, Miss Akira." He handed her the cup and a cookie. "A sweet cookie for a sweet girl."

Akira's eyes lit up, and she took a sip of her tea, then bit into the cookie. Ryu watched her with a warm smile.

"It's really good!" Akira giggled, taking another sip of her tea. "Thank you, Mr. Tanaka."

"My pleasure, Miss Akira," Mr. Tanaka replied with a smile.

Ryu nodded. "You may leave now."

Mr. Tanaka bowed and left the room, leaving the siblings to finish their tea. After a while, they put their cups on the table, and Akira looked up at Ryu with sparkling eyes.

"Oni-chan, can we play?" she asked, still snuggled up on his lap.

Ryu hesitated, taking her off his lap and setting her on the couch. He stood up, trying to sound firm. "I have homework to do."

Akira's face fell, but she quickly recovered, making a puppy face. "Please, Oni-chan, just for a little while?"

Ryu turned his head, trying to resist her charms, but Akira jumped off the couch and stood in front of him. "Please, Oni-chan?"

Ryu sighed, unable to resist her persistence. "Okay, but just for a little while, got it?"

Akira's face lit up with excitement. "Thank you, Oni-chan!"

She jumped into his arms, and Ryu caught her, spinning around in a circle as she giggled with delight.

As Ryu spun Akira around, they both lost themselves in the moment. Ryu's reserved expression softened, and a rare genuine smile spread across his face. Akira's laughter echoed through the room, her eyes shining with joy. Together, they twirled, carefree and lost in their own little world.