When he left me: chapter 10
Title: When he left me...
Pairing: Ohmiya, Jun/ ?, Sho/oc, Nino/oc
Rating: PG
genre: Romance, drama, fluff, family, AU
Plot: Nino broke up with his boyfriend Satoshi. Six years later, Satoshi discover all the truth
Warning: bad english xD
[Chapter 10]
When we arrived at Sakurai-san's home for his daughter's birthday party, I felt Satoe squeeze my hand a little harder. My eyes then landed on her. She was staring at me, smiling.
- What's wrong?
- Hm hm. She says, shaking her head. I'm happy, it's my first birthday party. Dad couldn't take me before and obaa-chan neither.
I smile back, she makes me a little pain. But I don't have time to really think because Sakurai-san opens the door for us.
- Konnichiwa! Nice to see you Satoe-chan! How is your arm?
- I'm fine, I have a plaster with the drawings of Satoshi-kun and Jun-kun on it.
- Good, good. Come, the little party is happening in the living room.
He escorts us to this point and to my surprise, there are only 3 children in the room: Setsuna-chan, a kid I don't know and Masa ... something, I think. I sometimes see him when i come to fetch Satoe at school. They are all sitting around an imaginary tea at the coffee table.
- Satoe-chan! Suddenly exclaims Setsuna-chan who immediately drops her plastic teapot to join her friend. Are you coming to play with us? We play tea.
- Setsuna ... I didn't hear you say hello to Ohno-san.
The child, following the reprimand of her father, shyly looks up at me and says hello to me in a small voice to which I respond with a smile. The two girls then join their friends and Sakurai-san guide me in the kitchen communicating with the living room.
- I suggest we leave them have a little fun between them.
A young woman is sitting at the table and sipping tea. At my sight she gives me a small sign of the chin.
- Ohno-san, this is Masaki-kun's mother. Aiba Rinko-san.
- Pleased to meet you.
- Do you want something to drink, Ohno-san?
- I'll take a tea, thank you.
- It's as if it were done, sit down, make yourself at home.
At these words, I sit in front of Aiba-san.
- They all get along well. Said this one.
- That's what I understand.
- So you're Satoe-chan's father?
- No ! No ! I ... I am only her ... almost guardian, her parents died and I lived with her father before she was born.
- Ooh ... Poor girl. She is always so smiling.
- Yes, we are good to each other, I suppose. It's been a little over a month since her father left us.
Sakurai comes back with my tea and also sits at the table.
- She seems to be happy with you, at least. Says Aiba-san warmly.
- How can you say that?
- Maternal intuition.
I give her back her smile and take a few sips of tea.
- More children will arrive? I ask.
Sakurai-san sighs as his fingers tighten on his cup.
- No.
- Ah, hum. I say, sorry and a little ashamed for asking the question.
- Let's say that mothers who think they are so perfect don't like their offspring to be side by side with children of parents who work late or are single. Adds Aiba-san.
- I thought that other parents should be like that. I thought mothers were sniffing at me the first time I brought Satoe to school.
- They are all real vipers, my husband and I have a restaurant and on the pretext that I don't leave the family business because I have children, they allow themselves to spit their venom on my back.
- That's Masaki-kun's brother over there?
- No ! She laughs. It's Tomohisa-kun, he lives next to us, I suggested to his mother, who had an impediment, to bring him.
- So ka ... But he has brothers and sisters? You just said that you had children.
Another burst of laughter from both parents in front of me this time. Aiba-san then recoils her chair from under the table, letting me see her belly with a beautiful rounded shape.
- I'm due in two months, Masaki is going to have a little brother.
- O ... omedetou! Do I make, a little red on the cheeks.
- As Rinko-san and I are a little rejected by the rest of the parents, we have become good friends. I hope we all get along well.
A little joy seizes me and I think I can say that I have in front of me two new precious friends. It had not happened to me since meeting Jun. After my separation from Kazu, I broke contact with our old friends.
We are still discussing a moment during which we get to know each other better by talking about our respective lives, then the party is in full swing until the evening. Around 6 pm Rinko-san (because yes, I ended up dropping the last name with her) leaves the apartment with the two boys. Setsuna and Satoe fell asleep on the living room rug in the middle of their drawings. So it was after carrying them with Sakurai-san on the sofa that I volunteered to help him tidy up. An hour later, we wash the dishes that were used at tea time. He wash, I wipe. He then glances at the living room and smiles as the little ones who are still sleeping.
- They are exhausted.
- This is the first time that Satoe falls asleep so early and so quickly.
- They were excited all week, it's understandable. Tell me, this ... Jun-kun that Satoe talked about is the friend you're hosting, right?
- That's it.
- She isn't a bit jealous that you've found someone other than her father?
At these words, I fail to let go of the plate he has just given me. Why does he think I'm going out with Jun?
- Jun-kun is only a friend. He just ended a relationship and he had nowhere to go.
- Oh really ? I'm sorry, I misinterpreted!
He is sincere but I detect something in the tone of his voice. Some ... relief?
- Are you planning to find someone?
- I don't know, maybe. If it happens ... I answer.
Then as my tongue definitely don't want to stay in my pocket today, I return the question to him. He's laughing.
- With my work and Setsuna and more, I have not been involved in a relationship since her birth. And I don't know if I really want to.
I agree and we continue our dishes. Someone then rings at the door. Sakurai goes off and I stay in the kitchen waiting. Only the salaryman's voice and another of feminine origin reach me through the wall that separates the kitchen from the entrance.
- What are you doing here ?
- I just finished the job, I brought a gift to the little one.
- I will give it to her, she sleeps and it's not your Saturday.
- It's my daughter's birthday, I have the right to see her a few minutes, right?
- Ask that to the judge.
- Stop with that. We can make an exception.
- Do we feel maternal now?
- Don't start !
- It was you who decided that you didn't want her the very day you told me you were pregnant!
- I had a career that was soaring and my pregnancy ruined everything!
- Excuse me, ma'am, I'm laying on the cover of all the magazines and I sleep in a different city every night!
- How can you be so deeply stupid! I did well to never marry you!
- And I therefore ! Go home, I have a guest waiting.
- A date ? I thought Setsuna would always be your priority.
- And it has not changed, stop your delusions and go now.
- Always so kind to what I see.
Seconds later, the front door closes. Having heard the whole conversation annoys me a lot, I have the impression of having spied on them. The consciousness not very quiet, I jump when my host reappears, visibly upset, put a package on the living room table and comes back to me to continue the dishes.
- Excuse me, it was Maya, my ex, she had a gift for Setsuna but as she slept I told her that I will give it to her later.
He takes his sponge and plunges his hands into the soapy water to pick a plate he wash absently. He doesn't know that I heard everything.
We finish our task about ten minutes later. Satoe on the back, I leave the apartment of Sakurai not without thanking him for his hospitality. Once outside, I head for home, on foot, it's not far. But a vaguely familiar voice suddenly stops me.
- Hey! You there !
I turn around and face a very beautiful young woman leaning against a car parked in the street, arms crossed on the chest and the look almost thundering.
- Was you the guest of Sho?
- Uh ... yes ... but.
She approaches me with a threatening step, narrowing her eyes.
- You have a child too, no wonder why you went out together.
- What? No ! We are not together! I accompanied Satoe-chan on her friend's birthday, that's all.
She sighs, rolling her eyes.
- Excuse me. I'm a little paranoid, Shimada Maya, Setsuna's mother.
- Ohno Satoshi.
- It's your daughter ?
- No, it's the daughter ... of a deceased friend.
- Can I drive you somewhere? You are not going to carry the girl on your back all the way.
- I don't want to impose myself.
She doesn't listen to me and opens her rear door.
- Go in.
- You are sure ?
- Do you think I have a killer psychopathic face?
I don't answer and silently accept the proposal by going into the back seat with Satoe. I give my address to Maya and she starts. The journey begins in silence then it's her who speaks again.
- Are you friends with Sho?
- I think we can say that. I have only known him for a few weeks.
- Did he ever tells you about me?
- On the main lines.
- hum.
New silence weighing for a few minutes before the model sighs at a red light.
- Say, do you think I'm a bad mother?
Why is she asking me that? I don't have much parental experience and I only know what Sakurai told me.
- I don't even know you.
- Sho always tells the classic story. The heartless woman who denied her baby and sent her boyfriend to the roses for her career.
- ...
Maya's new sigh.
- In fact, Sho and I were happy together before. We had just started our careers, we settled together quite quickly. But I got pregnant at a bad time, it's true, I was going to sign a big contract and I had to cancel everything but since Sho was with me and I loved him I was sure to be able to raise the baby with him. But the day I was going to announce him, he told me he didn't love me anymore, that he had met a man and that he wanted us to separate. So my emotions took over. All alone, with my job, I could not have a child. I panicked. I told him that I wanted to abort because of my contract, that I hated him, that it was all his fault, that I didn't want the baby and he deterred me from abandoning it. He stayed with me throughout my pregnancy and then I preferred to leave Setsuna to him, she is happier with him and even him has more time to give her than me.
I don't know what to think of the version of Maya. But if she says true, I pity her a little. In the end, it is only a young woman with a broken heart who has let her emotions overwhelm her and who seems to regret bitterly today.
- I'm only entitled to a Saturday in two and this is the only time I have a little time to spend with Setsuna. I never confessed the truth to her father.
- You should.
- What?
- It's ridiculous, if you talk to him about your uneasiness at the time, I'm sure he'll understand. Sakurai-san is smart and kind.
The young woman lets out a small laugh.
- That's funny, that's all I liked about him. I thank you for your opinion but I will stick to the current situation. I don't want to be thrown away again. I don't even know why I'm telling you all that.
A few meters further, she parks and I recognize the facade of my building. I thank her politely and leave the vehicle, Satoe still asleep in my arms.
*****
- She's sleeping tight... I do, dropping on a chair in the kitchen after installing the girl in my bed.
- You already put her to bed? What about dinner dinner?
- Jun, she is exhausted and she stuffed herself with cake, she will survive until tomorrow morning.
- As you want, I'm not her guardian.
I roll my eyes while a delicious smell emanates from the kitchen.
- What are you doing ?
- Carbonara pasta.
- Ume naaa ...
- I see you like it, if you told me how it was at Sakurai-san?
- What do you think happened exactly? It was a birthday party with 5 year old kids, plus we were three parents. There was the mother of Satoe's friend, Aiba-san.
- Shit ...
- Stop swearing ...
- You missed a chance to try a rapprochement with Sakurai-san! Whine my friend.
- I'm not in love with him and reciprocally!
- Ah, yes, if he has a daughter it's probably because he likes women.
Maya's words instantly come back to me: "... he had met a man and he wanted us to separate ..." My mouth is an "o" exclamation, I didn't even understood that he was attracted to men.
- Actually ... maybe he likes men ...
- He told you ?
- His ex told me, the mother of his daughter.
- Don't tell me he dropped her for a guy?
- Apparently so.
- Ouch. It must have hurt.
- It's not for me to say that.
Jun, who had just taken out two plates to serve the meal, looks up in my direction and is visibly aware of his blunder because he immediately confuses himself in apology with an embarrassed smile.
- But your case is different, your ex didn't really have a choice. Sakurai, it was love.
- Um, but I think it didn't work, he devoted himself almost entirely to his daughter and his job.
My friend places a plate in front of me and another in front before sitting at the table. He then takes a big bite of spaghetti and chews it slowly.
- But since you too have a child, you probably have a chance with him.
- He does not want to get back with anyone for the moment and I'm not in love with him.
- He tells you a lot, though.
- We are friends, that's all.
- Ok, he sighs. How did you meet the mother of her daughter?
- She went in the early evening, I heard them arguing, and she was waiting for me downstairs visibly.
- She is not clear this chick.
- She thought I was going out with Sho-san.
- Do you call him Sho-san now?
- There was a lot of talk a while ago and we are a little more familiar with each other.
Jun rolls his eyes and goes back to his plate of pasta without adding a word. I know what he's thinking but I'm not interested in Sho ... Wait, I just called him Sho? Without honorary? No, no, no, no, it has nothing to do with, it's my new friend, that's all. Then he has his daughter and I have Satoe, he is very busy and I only recover from Kazu, we aren't going to ... But why mentally argue so?
- It's okay ?
- Huh? I startled when Jun speaks to me. Ah yes. I was thinking about what I would do for students starting Monday.
- I see. You seemed in great reflection.
- Don't worry. And I'm not in love with Sho-san! I add.
*****
- Obaa-chan! Satoe exclaims as her grandmother opens the front door.
- Konnichiwa Satoe-chan, how are you?
- Suuuper good!
- Come, I bought a cake for this afternoon.
After winking at me, Ninomiya-san walks away from the passage to let us in. In the living room, Satoe rushes to the portrait of her father to tell him all her week, while I just sit at the table. Following my discussion with Kazu's mother the other day at the hospital, I decided to go to her home every Sunday afternoon, which delighted Satoe and no doubt her grandmother.
Ninomiya-san brings the cake and goes back to get some tea. The girl came back to me the second when her grandmother put the strawberry cake on the table and stared at it with appetite. Amused, I calmly laugh which forces me to clear my throat right after.
- It's not going away, you know.
- It looks so tasty ...
Well, first point that differentiates her from her father. Kazu wasn't particularly a food lover. His mother returns with tea and an orange juice for Satoe and soon we all enjoy the pastry.
- So how was your week, you both?
- I was at Setsuna-chan's birthday!
- Really ? You had a lot of fun?
- Hum! There was cake too and lots of stuff to eat!
- Satoshi-kun came with you?
- Yeah. The girl replies with her mouth full of cake. He stayed to talk with Setsuna-chan's dad and Masaki-kun's mom. Do you know that Masaki-kun's mom is going to have a baby? Even it's a boy and ...
- Slow down, swallow before speaking ... Ninomiya-san interrupt her.
We both laugh as Satoe swallows and drinks a big sip of orange juice to get it all through.
- There was Tomohisa-kun too.
- That's good, and you Satoshi-kun, you could integrate in the middle of the parents?
- We are a little rejected by others but I get on well with Aiba-san and Sakurai-san.
- Good, I understand that it is not very easy, the parents are quite haughty as soon as you get out of their standards nowadays.
My nose suddenly tickles me and I sneeze loudly twice in a row. Satoe bursts out laughing.
- You're too funny Satoshi-kun!
- Daijoubu? Ninomiya-san asks me.
- It will be fine. I say, taking out a handkerchief from my pocket.
Now that I think it's true that my throat a little hoarse since this morning. Pity, I'm not sick ...
- We tend to get sick a little more often with a child. I remember that I regularly caught viruses that were hanging around at Kazu's school when he was little.
That's not reassuring for me.
- But it's certainly nothing. I'm probably getting ideas.
- I hope, I hate to be sick.
- Believe me, it's even worse when it falls on your child. When Kazu was small, it was very painful, this child was constantly cold because he refused to cover himself properly, haha! He has always been incredibly stubborn!
Ninomiya-san only laughs briefly and her face is sad as a sigh escapes from her lips. She misses his son, of course. I have only been part of his life for a few years, my sadness is nothing compared to that of his mother who saw him grow up. Her gaze shifts from his portrait on the small altar in the living room to Satoe and she smiles again. The little girl looks at her without really understanding the reason for the silence.
- Doushita?
- Nothing sweetie, you're not hungry anymore?
I notice indeed that it remains in the plate of the little one a good half of the cake that was served to her earlier. She shakes her head in response.
- In this case, we share what is left, Satoshi-kun?
- Gladly. I say with a smile.
- I see you're still a good eater!
I blush a little, it's true that I love sweets. After this lunch at Kazunari's mother home, she gives me a piece of cake for Jun and we go home.
The evening is like every day between dinner, bath and Satoe's bedtime. Once alone, Jun and I watch a little TV before going to sleep. It is then only in the middle of the night, around 3 am, according to my alarm clock, that I wake up in sweat, with a sore throat and a thundering cough and I go to the obvious: I will not be able to go to high school tomorrow. "Shit!" I swear mentally before coughing again.
Pairing: Ohmiya, Jun/ ?, Sho/oc, Nino/oc
Rating: PG
genre: Romance, drama, fluff, family, AU
Plot: Nino broke up with his boyfriend Satoshi. Six years later, Satoshi discover all the truth
Warning: bad english xD
[Chapter 10]
When we arrived at Sakurai-san's home for his daughter's birthday party, I felt Satoe squeeze my hand a little harder. My eyes then landed on her. She was staring at me, smiling.
- What's wrong?
- Hm hm. She says, shaking her head. I'm happy, it's my first birthday party. Dad couldn't take me before and obaa-chan neither.
I smile back, she makes me a little pain. But I don't have time to really think because Sakurai-san opens the door for us.
- Konnichiwa! Nice to see you Satoe-chan! How is your arm?
- I'm fine, I have a plaster with the drawings of Satoshi-kun and Jun-kun on it.
- Good, good. Come, the little party is happening in the living room.
He escorts us to this point and to my surprise, there are only 3 children in the room: Setsuna-chan, a kid I don't know and Masa ... something, I think. I sometimes see him when i come to fetch Satoe at school. They are all sitting around an imaginary tea at the coffee table.
- Satoe-chan! Suddenly exclaims Setsuna-chan who immediately drops her plastic teapot to join her friend. Are you coming to play with us? We play tea.
- Setsuna ... I didn't hear you say hello to Ohno-san.
The child, following the reprimand of her father, shyly looks up at me and says hello to me in a small voice to which I respond with a smile. The two girls then join their friends and Sakurai-san guide me in the kitchen communicating with the living room.
- I suggest we leave them have a little fun between them.
A young woman is sitting at the table and sipping tea. At my sight she gives me a small sign of the chin.
- Ohno-san, this is Masaki-kun's mother. Aiba Rinko-san.
- Pleased to meet you.
- Do you want something to drink, Ohno-san?
- I'll take a tea, thank you.
- It's as if it were done, sit down, make yourself at home.
At these words, I sit in front of Aiba-san.
- They all get along well. Said this one.
- That's what I understand.
- So you're Satoe-chan's father?
- No ! No ! I ... I am only her ... almost guardian, her parents died and I lived with her father before she was born.
- Ooh ... Poor girl. She is always so smiling.
- Yes, we are good to each other, I suppose. It's been a little over a month since her father left us.
Sakurai comes back with my tea and also sits at the table.
- She seems to be happy with you, at least. Says Aiba-san warmly.
- How can you say that?
- Maternal intuition.
I give her back her smile and take a few sips of tea.
- More children will arrive? I ask.
Sakurai-san sighs as his fingers tighten on his cup.
- No.
- Ah, hum. I say, sorry and a little ashamed for asking the question.
- Let's say that mothers who think they are so perfect don't like their offspring to be side by side with children of parents who work late or are single. Adds Aiba-san.
- I thought that other parents should be like that. I thought mothers were sniffing at me the first time I brought Satoe to school.
- They are all real vipers, my husband and I have a restaurant and on the pretext that I don't leave the family business because I have children, they allow themselves to spit their venom on my back.
- That's Masaki-kun's brother over there?
- No ! She laughs. It's Tomohisa-kun, he lives next to us, I suggested to his mother, who had an impediment, to bring him.
- So ka ... But he has brothers and sisters? You just said that you had children.
Another burst of laughter from both parents in front of me this time. Aiba-san then recoils her chair from under the table, letting me see her belly with a beautiful rounded shape.
- I'm due in two months, Masaki is going to have a little brother.
- O ... omedetou! Do I make, a little red on the cheeks.
- As Rinko-san and I are a little rejected by the rest of the parents, we have become good friends. I hope we all get along well.
A little joy seizes me and I think I can say that I have in front of me two new precious friends. It had not happened to me since meeting Jun. After my separation from Kazu, I broke contact with our old friends.
We are still discussing a moment during which we get to know each other better by talking about our respective lives, then the party is in full swing until the evening. Around 6 pm Rinko-san (because yes, I ended up dropping the last name with her) leaves the apartment with the two boys. Setsuna and Satoe fell asleep on the living room rug in the middle of their drawings. So it was after carrying them with Sakurai-san on the sofa that I volunteered to help him tidy up. An hour later, we wash the dishes that were used at tea time. He wash, I wipe. He then glances at the living room and smiles as the little ones who are still sleeping.
- They are exhausted.
- This is the first time that Satoe falls asleep so early and so quickly.
- They were excited all week, it's understandable. Tell me, this ... Jun-kun that Satoe talked about is the friend you're hosting, right?
- That's it.
- She isn't a bit jealous that you've found someone other than her father?
At these words, I fail to let go of the plate he has just given me. Why does he think I'm going out with Jun?
- Jun-kun is only a friend. He just ended a relationship and he had nowhere to go.
- Oh really ? I'm sorry, I misinterpreted!
He is sincere but I detect something in the tone of his voice. Some ... relief?
- Are you planning to find someone?
- I don't know, maybe. If it happens ... I answer.
Then as my tongue definitely don't want to stay in my pocket today, I return the question to him. He's laughing.
- With my work and Setsuna and more, I have not been involved in a relationship since her birth. And I don't know if I really want to.
I agree and we continue our dishes. Someone then rings at the door. Sakurai goes off and I stay in the kitchen waiting. Only the salaryman's voice and another of feminine origin reach me through the wall that separates the kitchen from the entrance.
- What are you doing here ?
- I just finished the job, I brought a gift to the little one.
- I will give it to her, she sleeps and it's not your Saturday.
- It's my daughter's birthday, I have the right to see her a few minutes, right?
- Ask that to the judge.
- Stop with that. We can make an exception.
- Do we feel maternal now?
- Don't start !
- It was you who decided that you didn't want her the very day you told me you were pregnant!
- I had a career that was soaring and my pregnancy ruined everything!
- Excuse me, ma'am, I'm laying on the cover of all the magazines and I sleep in a different city every night!
- How can you be so deeply stupid! I did well to never marry you!
- And I therefore ! Go home, I have a guest waiting.
- A date ? I thought Setsuna would always be your priority.
- And it has not changed, stop your delusions and go now.
- Always so kind to what I see.
Seconds later, the front door closes. Having heard the whole conversation annoys me a lot, I have the impression of having spied on them. The consciousness not very quiet, I jump when my host reappears, visibly upset, put a package on the living room table and comes back to me to continue the dishes.
- Excuse me, it was Maya, my ex, she had a gift for Setsuna but as she slept I told her that I will give it to her later.
He takes his sponge and plunges his hands into the soapy water to pick a plate he wash absently. He doesn't know that I heard everything.
We finish our task about ten minutes later. Satoe on the back, I leave the apartment of Sakurai not without thanking him for his hospitality. Once outside, I head for home, on foot, it's not far. But a vaguely familiar voice suddenly stops me.
- Hey! You there !
I turn around and face a very beautiful young woman leaning against a car parked in the street, arms crossed on the chest and the look almost thundering.
- Was you the guest of Sho?
- Uh ... yes ... but.
She approaches me with a threatening step, narrowing her eyes.
- You have a child too, no wonder why you went out together.
- What? No ! We are not together! I accompanied Satoe-chan on her friend's birthday, that's all.
She sighs, rolling her eyes.
- Excuse me. I'm a little paranoid, Shimada Maya, Setsuna's mother.
- Ohno Satoshi.
- It's your daughter ?
- No, it's the daughter ... of a deceased friend.
- Can I drive you somewhere? You are not going to carry the girl on your back all the way.
- I don't want to impose myself.
She doesn't listen to me and opens her rear door.
- Go in.
- You are sure ?
- Do you think I have a killer psychopathic face?
I don't answer and silently accept the proposal by going into the back seat with Satoe. I give my address to Maya and she starts. The journey begins in silence then it's her who speaks again.
- Are you friends with Sho?
- I think we can say that. I have only known him for a few weeks.
- Did he ever tells you about me?
- On the main lines.
- hum.
New silence weighing for a few minutes before the model sighs at a red light.
- Say, do you think I'm a bad mother?
Why is she asking me that? I don't have much parental experience and I only know what Sakurai told me.
- I don't even know you.
- Sho always tells the classic story. The heartless woman who denied her baby and sent her boyfriend to the roses for her career.
- ...
Maya's new sigh.
- In fact, Sho and I were happy together before. We had just started our careers, we settled together quite quickly. But I got pregnant at a bad time, it's true, I was going to sign a big contract and I had to cancel everything but since Sho was with me and I loved him I was sure to be able to raise the baby with him. But the day I was going to announce him, he told me he didn't love me anymore, that he had met a man and that he wanted us to separate. So my emotions took over. All alone, with my job, I could not have a child. I panicked. I told him that I wanted to abort because of my contract, that I hated him, that it was all his fault, that I didn't want the baby and he deterred me from abandoning it. He stayed with me throughout my pregnancy and then I preferred to leave Setsuna to him, she is happier with him and even him has more time to give her than me.
I don't know what to think of the version of Maya. But if she says true, I pity her a little. In the end, it is only a young woman with a broken heart who has let her emotions overwhelm her and who seems to regret bitterly today.
- I'm only entitled to a Saturday in two and this is the only time I have a little time to spend with Setsuna. I never confessed the truth to her father.
- You should.
- What?
- It's ridiculous, if you talk to him about your uneasiness at the time, I'm sure he'll understand. Sakurai-san is smart and kind.
The young woman lets out a small laugh.
- That's funny, that's all I liked about him. I thank you for your opinion but I will stick to the current situation. I don't want to be thrown away again. I don't even know why I'm telling you all that.
A few meters further, she parks and I recognize the facade of my building. I thank her politely and leave the vehicle, Satoe still asleep in my arms.
*****
- She's sleeping tight... I do, dropping on a chair in the kitchen after installing the girl in my bed.
- You already put her to bed? What about dinner dinner?
- Jun, she is exhausted and she stuffed herself with cake, she will survive until tomorrow morning.
- As you want, I'm not her guardian.
I roll my eyes while a delicious smell emanates from the kitchen.
- What are you doing ?
- Carbonara pasta.
- Ume naaa ...
- I see you like it, if you told me how it was at Sakurai-san?
- What do you think happened exactly? It was a birthday party with 5 year old kids, plus we were three parents. There was the mother of Satoe's friend, Aiba-san.
- Shit ...
- Stop swearing ...
- You missed a chance to try a rapprochement with Sakurai-san! Whine my friend.
- I'm not in love with him and reciprocally!
- Ah, yes, if he has a daughter it's probably because he likes women.
Maya's words instantly come back to me: "... he had met a man and he wanted us to separate ..." My mouth is an "o" exclamation, I didn't even understood that he was attracted to men.
- Actually ... maybe he likes men ...
- He told you ?
- His ex told me, the mother of his daughter.
- Don't tell me he dropped her for a guy?
- Apparently so.
- Ouch. It must have hurt.
- It's not for me to say that.
Jun, who had just taken out two plates to serve the meal, looks up in my direction and is visibly aware of his blunder because he immediately confuses himself in apology with an embarrassed smile.
- But your case is different, your ex didn't really have a choice. Sakurai, it was love.
- Um, but I think it didn't work, he devoted himself almost entirely to his daughter and his job.
My friend places a plate in front of me and another in front before sitting at the table. He then takes a big bite of spaghetti and chews it slowly.
- But since you too have a child, you probably have a chance with him.
- He does not want to get back with anyone for the moment and I'm not in love with him.
- He tells you a lot, though.
- We are friends, that's all.
- Ok, he sighs. How did you meet the mother of her daughter?
- She went in the early evening, I heard them arguing, and she was waiting for me downstairs visibly.
- She is not clear this chick.
- She thought I was going out with Sho-san.
- Do you call him Sho-san now?
- There was a lot of talk a while ago and we are a little more familiar with each other.
Jun rolls his eyes and goes back to his plate of pasta without adding a word. I know what he's thinking but I'm not interested in Sho ... Wait, I just called him Sho? Without honorary? No, no, no, no, it has nothing to do with, it's my new friend, that's all. Then he has his daughter and I have Satoe, he is very busy and I only recover from Kazu, we aren't going to ... But why mentally argue so?
- It's okay ?
- Huh? I startled when Jun speaks to me. Ah yes. I was thinking about what I would do for students starting Monday.
- I see. You seemed in great reflection.
- Don't worry. And I'm not in love with Sho-san! I add.
*****
- Obaa-chan! Satoe exclaims as her grandmother opens the front door.
- Konnichiwa Satoe-chan, how are you?
- Suuuper good!
- Come, I bought a cake for this afternoon.
After winking at me, Ninomiya-san walks away from the passage to let us in. In the living room, Satoe rushes to the portrait of her father to tell him all her week, while I just sit at the table. Following my discussion with Kazu's mother the other day at the hospital, I decided to go to her home every Sunday afternoon, which delighted Satoe and no doubt her grandmother.
Ninomiya-san brings the cake and goes back to get some tea. The girl came back to me the second when her grandmother put the strawberry cake on the table and stared at it with appetite. Amused, I calmly laugh which forces me to clear my throat right after.
- It's not going away, you know.
- It looks so tasty ...
Well, first point that differentiates her from her father. Kazu wasn't particularly a food lover. His mother returns with tea and an orange juice for Satoe and soon we all enjoy the pastry.
- So how was your week, you both?
- I was at Setsuna-chan's birthday!
- Really ? You had a lot of fun?
- Hum! There was cake too and lots of stuff to eat!
- Satoshi-kun came with you?
- Yeah. The girl replies with her mouth full of cake. He stayed to talk with Setsuna-chan's dad and Masaki-kun's mom. Do you know that Masaki-kun's mom is going to have a baby? Even it's a boy and ...
- Slow down, swallow before speaking ... Ninomiya-san interrupt her.
We both laugh as Satoe swallows and drinks a big sip of orange juice to get it all through.
- There was Tomohisa-kun too.
- That's good, and you Satoshi-kun, you could integrate in the middle of the parents?
- We are a little rejected by others but I get on well with Aiba-san and Sakurai-san.
- Good, I understand that it is not very easy, the parents are quite haughty as soon as you get out of their standards nowadays.
My nose suddenly tickles me and I sneeze loudly twice in a row. Satoe bursts out laughing.
- You're too funny Satoshi-kun!
- Daijoubu? Ninomiya-san asks me.
- It will be fine. I say, taking out a handkerchief from my pocket.
Now that I think it's true that my throat a little hoarse since this morning. Pity, I'm not sick ...
- We tend to get sick a little more often with a child. I remember that I regularly caught viruses that were hanging around at Kazu's school when he was little.
That's not reassuring for me.
- But it's certainly nothing. I'm probably getting ideas.
- I hope, I hate to be sick.
- Believe me, it's even worse when it falls on your child. When Kazu was small, it was very painful, this child was constantly cold because he refused to cover himself properly, haha! He has always been incredibly stubborn!
Ninomiya-san only laughs briefly and her face is sad as a sigh escapes from her lips. She misses his son, of course. I have only been part of his life for a few years, my sadness is nothing compared to that of his mother who saw him grow up. Her gaze shifts from his portrait on the small altar in the living room to Satoe and she smiles again. The little girl looks at her without really understanding the reason for the silence.
- Doushita?
- Nothing sweetie, you're not hungry anymore?
I notice indeed that it remains in the plate of the little one a good half of the cake that was served to her earlier. She shakes her head in response.
- In this case, we share what is left, Satoshi-kun?
- Gladly. I say with a smile.
- I see you're still a good eater!
I blush a little, it's true that I love sweets. After this lunch at Kazunari's mother home, she gives me a piece of cake for Jun and we go home.
The evening is like every day between dinner, bath and Satoe's bedtime. Once alone, Jun and I watch a little TV before going to sleep. It is then only in the middle of the night, around 3 am, according to my alarm clock, that I wake up in sweat, with a sore throat and a thundering cough and I go to the obvious: I will not be able to go to high school tomorrow. "Shit!" I swear mentally before coughing again.