As the car moved through the city, Kaori pointed out a few interesting places through the window. Her voice was calm, as if she were trying to distract me from the lingering tension in the air.
After a few minutes, her sister looked at me curiously and called out to me.
—Hey, big brother Leo, where are you from?
Her energy was contagious, so I replied with the same enthusiasm.
—I'm from North America —I said with a smile—. And I go to the same university your sister attends.
Her eyes lit up.
—Really?! So you met her there? Wow! What else? Tell me everything!
I chuckled a bit at her excitement and began telling her how I had met Kaori. I talked about our first days at university, how we gradually grew closer, and the special places I had taken her around the city. I didn't leave out any details about our adventures and memorable moments, but of course, I avoided mentioning anything about the powers or related matters.
While I spoke, I caught a glimpse of Kaori's parents out of the corner of my eye. They didn't show particularly warm expressions, but they didn't seem upset either. More than anything, they looked like they were listening carefully, as if trying to learn more about our story without interrupting.
Kaori's sister, on the other hand, seemed genuinely thrilled.
—That sounds amazing! I didn't know my sister did those kinds of things. I always thought she was more serious and reserved.
I glanced at Kaori with a smile, and she sighed, as if disagreeing with her sister.
—I'm still serious —she murmured, though a faint blush on her cheeks gave her away.
Kaori's sister giggled softly and kept asking me questions, eager to know more about our story. Seeing her so cheerful, I couldn't help but feel more at ease. Maybe, after all, being accepted by her family wouldn't be so hard.
The car continued on its way, and though the uncertainty remained, I felt that, little by little, I was getting closer to them.
When we arrived at the restaurant, I was hit with a wave of surprise at the sight of the impressive building before us. The place was elegant, modern, with an architecture that screamed luxury and sophistication. My mind began to wander: Could Kaori's parents actually be millionaires? The scale of the place was overwhelming, only adding to my nervousness.
As we stepped out of the car, Kaori was as quiet as ever, but her face bore a serious, almost disappointed expression. I couldn't help but notice how distant she looked, and though I wanted to ask her what was wrong, I chose not to. I knew it wasn't the right time.
I held the car door open for Kaori and her sister. Her sister smiled brightly and thanked me, and I replied politely. But Kaori... her demeanor remained unchanged. She glanced at me sideways and, without warning, took my hand firmly.
—Don't you dare let go of it —she said in a cold, determined tone.
Her attitude caught me off guard, but I quickly replied in a similarly curt tone.
—Alright. I won't let go.
We headed toward the restaurant entrance and paused briefly. Two guards stood there to greet us, and I immediately noticed how perfectly arranged and polished everything looked. Somehow, I felt out of place, as if I didn't belong in this high-end setting. Everyone present was a local —not a single foreigner— which only made me feel more like an outsider.
When the guards opened the doors for us, a wave of eyes turned in our direction. Kaori and her family went in first, then Kaori and I. At that moment, every gaze fell on me, as if my presence was an anomaly in such an exclusive space.
We were led to an elegant staircase that took us to the next floor. I felt the eyes from the reception area still locked on me. Even though I tried not to show it, my discomfort grew with every step. Kaori walked beside me, silent, her attitude as closed off as always.
Upstairs, a waiter guided us to our table. As we walked, I noticed all eyes were still on me, and the hushed whispers among the diners did little to calm my nerves. Each step echoed louder in my mind. The fact that everyone was a local and no one looked at me with friendly or curious eyes only intensified my unease.
Finally, we sat at the reserved table. Though I tried to stay calm, the sensation of being watched kept gnawing at me. Kaori's presence beside me offered a bit of comfort, but I couldn't stop wondering how this dinner would end.
Kaori's whole family and I were seated at the reservation table. The atmosphere in the restaurant was elegant and quiet, with only the murmurs of nearby conversations and the soft sound of traditional Japanese music in the background. Kaori's father, with a serious demeanor, picked up the menu and opened it calmly before speaking to all of us.
—Order whatever you'd like from the menu —he said in a neutral tone.
I took the menu and started flipping through it, studying each dish with curiosity. There were many traditional options, from sushi to elaborate plates of fish and fresh seafood. But then, my eyes landed on something that caught my attention: the famous Japanese burger, made with ground beef stuffed with melted cheese. Something about the description reminded me of a Japanese take on the Juicy Lucy —a dish I'd always wanted to try.
The waiter arrived shortly after and first addressed Kaori's parents.
—Have you decided what you'd like to order? —he asked politely.
—For us, a salad with fish —Kaori's father replied, not even looking at the waiter.
Her sister, smiling brightly, ordered the same as me.
—I want the Japanese burger —she said excitedly, as if thrilled to try something different.
Kaori, meanwhile, went for something lighter.
—I'll have sushi —she said calmly, without looking up from the menu.
When the waiter turned to me, he looked at me expectantly.
—And you, what would you like to order? —he asked in Japanese, with a tone I couldn't quite interpret. Was he serious, or testing me?
Without thinking too much, I responded fluently in his language:
—I'd like the Japanese burger.
As soon as the words left my mouth, the waiter fell silent for a moment, surprised by my pronunciation. He glanced at the nearby tables, whose diners also seemed to have heard my reply and were now somewhat intrigued by me.
Kaori's parents reacted with mild surprise as well, though they tried to hide it. Meanwhile, Kaori, with a playful smile on her face, just looked at me with satisfaction, as if she'd been expecting that exact reaction.
The waiter, regaining his composure, nodded and jotted down my order before walking away with a slight bow.
—Impressive, Leo —Kaori's sister whispered with excitement—. I didn't know you could speak Japanese so well.
—Well, I've been practicing a lot —I replied, scratching my head a bit shyly.
Kaori said nothing, but her hand slid under the table and gently squeezed mine, silently saying "well done."
The atmosphere at the table felt a bit more relaxed now, though the question remained —how would the rest of the evening unfold?
After that moment, Kaori's mother looked directly at me and, with a serious yet calm tone, spoke:
—Tell us, Leo. Where are you from? What kind of person are you? What do you do? And most importantly... how did you meet my daughter?
Her gaze remained steady, as if analyzing every detail about me. I felt a slight chill down my spine —not from fear, but from the weight of the moment. Before I could answer, Kaori stepped in immediately.
—What are you, an investigator now, Mom? —she said in a slightly annoyed tone.
Her mother sighed and shook her head gently.
—It's not that. I just want to get to know him better —she replied more softly.
Kaori seemed to relax a little at that, though she still turned her gaze toward the restaurant window, as if trying to avoid the conversation.
I swallowed and prepared to answer.
—I'm from North America —I began in a calm voice, trying to maintain my composure—. I see myself as kind, sociable, and loyal to everything I care about. Right now, I'm focused on university and dedicating my time to my studies.
Kaori's mother nodded slightly, as if weighing each of my words.
—And how did you meet my daughter? —she asked, still looking straight at me.
I smiled faintly at the memory.
—I met her at university. After classes ended, I'd always see her around, and after a few weeks, I decided to approach her. We started talking, and little by little, we grew closer.
I glanced at Kaori, who was still staring out the window, but I noticed a small smile forming on her lips.
—After that —I continued—, I took her to see some unique spots in the city and to try different dishes from the local cuisine. I wanted her to experience new things and enjoy every moment.
Kaori's sister, who had been listening attentively, smiled with excitement.
—That sounds amazing! I didn't know my sister had explored so much with you, Leo.
Kaori simply closed her eyes and let out a soft sigh, as if recalling those memories. Meanwhile, her parents exchanged a look with an expression that was hard to read.
I felt like, in a way, this conversation was a test. Maybe they wanted to see what kind of person I was, how sincere I could be. But something in their eyes told me they hadn't made up their minds about me yet.
As I answered Kaori's mother's questions, I glanced at her father. His eyes were closed and his expression serious, as if analyzing the situation without directly getting involved. He didn't say a word, but his presence commanded respect.
Just as I finished speaking, the waiters arrived with the dishes. With elegant and precise movements, they placed each plate in front of us, bowed, and left in complete silence.
The atmosphere became calm. No one spoke. Only the sound of cutlery and the soft murmur of other diners in the restaurant could be heard. It felt like a moment of peace after the earlier tension.
—This is delicious! —Kaori's sister exclaimed with a satisfied smile, breaking the silence a little.
Kaori said nothing. Her expression remained neutral, although I noticed she was eating quickly, as if she wanted to finish as soon as possible.
Once we all finished, we gave a slight bow as a sign of respect and left the restaurant. Kaori's parents and sister walked out first, while Kaori and I followed a few steps behind them.
—We had barely stepped outside when Kaori's father pulled out the car keys and said firmly:
—Come on, I'll drive you.
Kaori stopped in her tracks and replied with a sharp tone:
—We can go on our own. We don't need you to take us.
Her father frowned, clearly irritated.
—Don't make this harder, Kaori. Get in the car.
Kaori's mother chimed in with the same authoritative tone:
—Listen to your father. We don't want to make this any more complicated.
Kaori clenched her fists tightly. Her breathing grew heavier, as if she were trying to hold back a wave of repressed emotions.
—I'm not getting in —she stated firmly—. I already showed up for the graduation, I had lunch with my sister. I have no reason to keep being around you.
Tension instantly filled the air. Her father stared at her with a stern expression, and her mother let out a frustrated sigh.
—Get in the car —her mother ordered—, or we'll make you.
Those words triggered something.
—Get lost! —Kaori screamed, her voice trembling—. You two always made my life difficult! I never even had time to hang out with my friends! I hate you!
Before anyone could react, Kaori took off running, her eyes filled with tears.
As soon as I saw her run, my body moved on instinct.
—Kaori! —I called out, but she didn't stop.
Without thinking, I ran after her, leaving her parents and sister behind, who stood there stunned.
I didn't know what I was going to say once I caught up to her. I just knew I couldn't let her be alone right then.
Kaori ran with everything she had, and even though I tried to catch up, my ragged breathing and fatigue made it hard to keep up. Still, I didn't stop following her.
Finally, I saw her stop in a park. Exhausted, she dropped onto a bench, lowering her head as she tried to catch her breath. I arrived a few seconds later, gasping for air. Without saying anything, I sat next to her and gently asked:
—Are you okay?
Kaori lifted her head to answer, but instead of speaking, her eyes filled with tears and she suddenly collapsed into my chest, bursting into tears.
I said nothing. I just held her tightly, letting her release everything. I could feel her body trembling as she spoke through sobs:
—They… always controlled me… I never had freedom… I was always under their shadow…
Her words came out broken, heavy with pain.
I didn't know what to say. Nothing I could tell her would erase years of suffering, so I just held her tighter, silently assuring her that she wasn't alone.
Little by little, her crying faded until, completely drained, she fell asleep in my arms.
I looked up at the sky. It was getting late. I couldn't leave her there, so gently, I lifted her onto my back and started walking toward the bus stop.
The walk was quiet, accompanied only by the sound of my footsteps and Kaori's calm breathing.
When we got to the stop, I gently tried to wake her.
—Kaori… we're here. Let's go home.
She opened her eyes slowly, still drowsy. She nodded slightly, and just then, the bus arrived. We got on and found our seats.
During the ride, Kaori stared out the window, her gaze distant, as if her mind were somewhere else. I said nothing. I knew she needed time to process everything that had happened.
Eventually, we reached our stop. I stepped off first, but when Kaori tried to follow, her legs trembled and gave out.
—Careful! —I exclaimed, catching her just in time.
Without a second thought, I carried her on my back again. She didn't resist, simply rested her head on my shoulder with a soft sigh.
The walk to the temple was completely silent. Only the night wind accompanied us, brushing against our skin and filling the air with its gentle whisper.
As I carried Kaori on my back, the cool night breeze wrapped around us, and the rustling leaves made the atmosphere feel peaceful.
Suddenly, Kaori's soft voice broke the silence.
—Thank you… for always being with me. I'm going to love you, my love…
After whispering those words, her breathing slowed again—she had fallen back asleep.
Hearing her made something warm blossom in my chest. Her words didn't just make me happy—they confirmed I had become someone important in her life. A part of me still hadn't fully processed everything that had happened, but in that moment, the only thing that mattered was that Kaori was with me.
The walk continued in complete silence, with only the night and the whispering wind as our companions.
When we arrived at the temple, I noticed it was completely empty. The stillness of the place felt even more mystical under the faint moonlight.
I gently carried Kaori to her room and laid her down on her futon. Carefully, I took off her shoes and tucked her in so she wouldn't get cold. Her face, peaceful in sleep, showed a calm I had rarely seen in her.
I sighed. I was exhausted too.
I sat on the floor and barely had the energy to take off my sneakers. I couldn't hold on any longer… fatigue overtook me, and before I knew it, I fell asleep right there, wrapped in the calm of the night.