Chapter 31: CH 31

Chapter 30: Sudden Farewell (Part 1)

It was right after third grade.

‘Rattle!’ The door opened vigorously.

“Haha! Hiroto! You’re coming with the teacher now!” (Haruka)

“Sensei, what’s wrong?” (Hiroto)

“Just come quickly!” (Teacher)

“Hiroto-kun… what’s wrong?” (Haruka)

“I don’t know… but the teacher said to come. I’ll be back soon, Haruka-chan.” (Hiroto)

“Okay! Come back soon!” (Haruka)

I got into the car with the teacher who seemed to be in a hurry. I asked him, “Sensei, where are we going?” He didn’t give me an answer, saying, “We’ll be there soon.” After a while, the car stopped and the teacher said, “I’m getting off here. The doctor will be with you.” I didn’t understand, but I got out and realized that I was in front of the hospital.

The doctor held me by the shoulders and we went inside the hospital. As I entered the hospital and was taken to the back, I heard my mother’s voice.

“Ahhh! Renji-san! Renji-san!” (Mari) TLN: Mari is Hiroto’s mother if anyone forgot.

My mom was crying, calling dad’s name. She seemed to have been injured and was wearing a bandage. I thought she was crying because she was in pain.

“Mom… does it hurt?” (Hiroto)

“Hiroto… your.. dad…Renji-san is…” (Mari)

“I don’t understand. What’s wrong with dad? Where is he? He was with us today, right?”

“Hiro… he’s…gone…”

A doctor and a teacher were talking.

When they were finished, he turned to me.

“Sakurai. The doctor will be with you.” (Teacher)

I still didn’t know what had happened. But I knew…something bad had happened.

“Mari! You’re safe! Where’s Renji-kun?” (Grandpa)

“Renji… he is…”

Grandpa came and talked with mom.

After a while, he said, “Hiroto. Come with Grandpa.”

“Where are we going?” (Hiroto)

“To your father’s place.”

He was sleeping. I called to him, “Dad, wake up,” but he wouldn’t wake up. I kept waking him up over and over again, but he wouldn’t wake up.

I talked to the doctor and my grandpa and found out that my dad was gone.

I cried a lot after that. I cried so much that I forgot what happened after.

I only remember my mom calling my dad’s name over and over again.

A few days later, Grandpa came to talk to the school teacher and we decided to move away…

“Haruka-chan… we’re going to move far away…” (Hiroto)

“What…?” (Haruka)

I’m sorry… Haruka-chan…

“Hiroto-kun… don’t go…”

I gave Haruka-chan a letter and I moved out. The last time I saw Haruka-chan, her face was covered in tears.

I still can’t forget the events of those days, even after seven years…

The company decided to move our belongings the next day, and we moved out right away. Mom was often distracted when she thought about Dad and the past.

Grandpa told me that my mom drove the car and got into an accident. Dad did not survive. Maybe that’s why she kept blaming herself.

Because I heard that, I could not mention my father’s name or Haruka-chan’s name.

I heard that my grandfather had told Haruka’s parents about what had happened.

A year after we left, I heard that Haruka’s mother contacted me, but I wanted to see her, so I asked Grandpa, but he told me that Mom did not remember anything.

Her hand was injured in the accident and she could no longer play the violin. For treatment, she went to the orthopedics department of Toko University Hospital, where Toru-san, who was famous at that time, worked.

I really owe a lot to Toru-san, both my mother and I.

If it weren’t for Toru-san, my mother might never be the same…

When Toru-san and Mom decided to get married… It was right after I entered the sixth grade. We moved from Grandpa’s house to our current house in order to live with Toru-san. Grandpa and his family also moved into the neighborhood to live nearby.

I changed schools and came to Grandpa’s house, and I was put on the baseball team of which Grandpa was the general manager of. I’m very grateful for that.

Still, no matter how many years go by, I can’t forget it… I could never forget.

If I don’t meet Haruka, I can’t move forward.

Even now, time is still standing still.

When I see Aizawa-san, I remember Haruka. I can’t help but compare them.

Haruka-chan… how are you doing?

I want to see you…

“What do you think, Toru-san?” (Hiroto)

“Well… if Hiroto-kun said he wanted to know, I think Mari-san would answer you. Do you want me to ask with you?” (Toru)

“I think so. I’d like to know more about you and your family. Can you do that for me?”

Toru-san and I waited for my mother to come home.

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2/2

TLN: Please comment or point out mistakes on our discord!

No idea when the next chapter will come out but I will try and not break the promised ETA for the 100th time.