Chapter 14
“Dad…? Please don’t speak to Hajime like that, he’s my friend. Even Mom doesn’t talk to him like that—.”
Chinatsu tried to defend me, glancing between her father and me. However, her words only served to further irritate him.
Her father let out an exasperated sigh, clearly not hiding his annoyance. He turned his gaze back to me before speaking.
“Chinatsu... I see, even Suzuka... Satou-kun, right? From the way you talk, it sounds like you know a fair bit about our situation… Truly, it’s astonishing how someone like you could insinuate yourself into a household without a father figure. I’d like to see what kind of parents raised you.”
—You’re right, even I wish I could see my parents again too.
Feeling the sting of his words, I fought to suppress the retort rising in my throat, diving deep into my thoughts instead.
Why had he shown up without notifying anyone? It wasn’t as if he couldn’t have contacted them. Did he want to avoid Suzuka-san from knowing? Why? Was it something he didn’t want her to prepare for?
I couldn’t tell when exactly he had arrived at the house. But instead of choosing a more appropriate time, he idled around, buying alcohol and then… tried to assert control by reprimanding his daughter for coming home late.
“...Were you perhaps… planning to take Chinatsu-san somewhere? Why would you do that?”
I posed the question again, my voice calm but insistent.
“...”
“...Eh?”
Seeing her father remain silent, Chinatsu turned to look in his direction in confusion, failing to keep up with our conversation.
"Ha, it’s because Suzuka has been so consumed by work that she’s neglected everything else. She even ended up ruining her health and leaving Chinatsu alone, which allowed a disrespectful guy like you to intrude into our home. ...Clearly, I can’t trust my precious daughter to be left in this situation."
As Chinatsu’s father spoke, he didn't answer my question but instead began justifying himself. He constructed a narrative that suited his own perspective, speaking as if his version of events was the only truth. To me, he seemed more like a child throwing a tantrum.
"To begin with, there was no need for Chinatsu to leave her previous school. Over there, both the students and parents had reliable backgrounds, and she wouldn't have ended up associating with someone like you. She could have gone straight through to university. It's like she's thrown away all the things we've made in her so far.”
“...Eh? Dad…? Why would you say that…? Why…? But… You told me I could choose freely—”
Next, he shifted to blaming. His muttered words, meant to manipulate, were the tactics of a cunning adult. This left Chinatsu visibly shocked and taken aback.
“Yes, even though you’re still young, I trusted you because I believed in you. But that was a mistake. You’re even staying out late on a Saturday with some unknown guy… And you, what kind of parents raised someone who would drag a girl around so late and even enter her home?”
He wielded his words like weapons, trying to pin the blame on us. As he spoke, he looked for weak points, cutting into them with every chance he got. He positioned himself so that he could continue to criticize and blame the other.
“...Unfortunately, my parents have passed away, but I've always strived to live in a way that would make them proud. Now, I'd appreciate it if you answered my question: what exactly were you planning to do with Chinatsu-san?”
Despite having faced many adults in my life, I had rarely encountered such malice. Except for my uncle, who treated me as a fellow with shared sorrow, other adults viewed me as a pitiful child. But now, standing firm wasn’t difficult, because I know that Chinatsu has my back. Thinking as such, I pushed through my apprehension and asked again.
“...Chinatsu, come here.”
Perhaps unamused by my response, he proceeded to ignore my question and reached his hand out towards her daughter.
Chinatsu shuddered and quickly hid behind my back before exclaiming in surprise at herself for reacting in such a way, and at her father for making her react in such a way.
“Ah... Eh…? Why…?”
Her voice trembled, carrying the weight of multiple questions. Her father, misunderstanding, offered his own explanation.
"...Let's live together. That way, you won't be lonely. Your little brother will be born soon too, and we can all be a family of four. I’m pretty sure you would get along well with Satomi too. You know that us adults are busy dealing with financial and legal matters that young people like you wouldn’t understand, but this is what’s good for your future. I discussed these matters with Suzuka, but she didn’t understand what’s best for you.”
“...Eh? …Dad? This… Satomi— is the woman you’re currently seeing other than Mom, right? What are you even trying to do? Living together? If you think that makes sense, well to me, it doesn’t!! You, showing up so suddenly… saying all these things… I don’t know what’s going on anymore!!!”
Chinatsu responded with a voice raised in desperation, challenging every convoluted logic her father spoke.
“...The same thing happened when you wanted to transfer schools. If your mother thought about your future more, she should’ve known that dissuading you was the better choice. But she didn’t even try. And then, she’d go around telling me to divorce and pay alimony just because I spent time elsewhere? She should be grateful for everything I’ve provided. Look at her now that I’m not around anymore. She worked herself sick. She’s a failure of a mother.”
“That’s not true... Mom… she’s—”
I felt my phone vibrate, but the barrage of unbearable words continued unabated.
“Chinatsu, you might not understand this since you’re still young, but being with me is what’s best. Look, we were always close, weren’t we? Closer than you and your mother. If I can get your confirmation that you want to come with me, there’ll be no issue with custody.”
Again, my phone vibrated. It was time. I stepped in front of Chinatsu, shielding her from her father's reach. Seeing my actions, her father glared at me, annoyed.
“...I don’t know what you’re trying to do, but I could call the police for trespassing, you know? It’s understandable for someone of your age to have the urges to butt in people’s affairs, but this is adult business. You have no place meddling in other family’s—”
I had heard enough.
“You’re right. I’ll leave... But I’m taking her with me.”
“What are you—?”
“...Eh?”
Ignoring his shocked expression, I closed the living room door, grabbed Chinatsu’s hand, and hurriedly ran to the front entrance. Chinatsu looked surprised but didn’t resist while her father chased us sluggishly, likely due to the alcohol, or perhaps caught off guard by my sudden actions. We quickly reached the door.
Finally, I had one last thing to do before leaving. I knew it was unnecessary, but I had to say it.
“As you’ve said, we’re young, or rather, children in your eyes. But let’s be honest, you were probably more naive compared to us when you were at our age, no? We might be young, but we’re not as clueless as to not understand anything at all.”
I continued running as I declared such words from the front door towards the person who had finally opened the living room door.
“That’s why I know what you’re trying to accomplish, and I know that the words you’ve thrown at Chinatsu are nothing less than despicable! There’s no way I’d let someone like you take away someone important to me!”
After saying my piece, I bolted out while still gripping Chinatsu’s hands.
“Hajime?!”
“It might hurt, but we have to run without shoes. Plus, there’s already a taxi waiting outside. Suzuka-san! If the police come looking for us, can I please leave it for you to handle?”
Seemingly having turned sober, Chinatsu’s father’s angry shouts began fading behind us. Holding onto Chinatsu’s hands, I opened the front door and said a few words to someone who might have been listening through the phone, and started running.
◇◆
"Please, drive! Quickly, to the station first!"
"..."
The rear door of the taxi opened, and we jumped in. The driver glanced at us, then at the man chasing us from behind. He seemed to understand something and, without a word, started driving. The meter was already running as the cab had been waiting in service mode.
I hadn’t anticipated using the taxi this way, but I was glad I had called it in advance, even if it meant paying for the wait time. It was a relief that the driver, who saw two high schoolers in a hurry, didn't hesitate and simply started driving.
Honestly, it was a close call, and my heart was pounding wildly.
"Hah... hah… Hajime? What’s going on? And why did you mention my mom’s name earlier?"
Chinatsu, sitting next to me, looked bewildered and asked me the obvious question.
"...Here."
I figured this would be the quickest way to explain, so I showed her my phone. On the screen, it displayed a call in progress with the name “Suzuka-san.”
