Chapter 39

After throwing her shoes and jacket on the ground, Iyori ran through the house and into her bedroom, whereafter she slammed the door shut behind her.

“What on earth is happening?” said Hanako, who was sitting at her desk.

“Can’t this door lock? Do we have a key somewhere?” said Iyori as she looked around.

“No... I don’t know... why?”

“Because dad is gonna kill me.”

“What?”

“Iyori!” yelled Akihito as he opened the door and walked over to Iyori with bloodshot eyes staring into her soul. Iyori quickly dashed behind Hanako, who was looking even more confused than before.

“Don’t hide behind your sister, get out here so we can talk!” said Akihito, his voice still raised.

“I don’t have anything to talk to you about,” said Iyori firmly.

“Is that so? So you don’t think that having a secret part time job is anything you need to explain?” said Akihito while Hina and Aiko appeared from the hallway. They didn't dare to walk inside, but instead stared from a distance with worry and confusion.

“What happened, honey?” said Hina from behind and Akihito turned around for a moment.

“Well, as you know, I just picked up our daughter from the police station. Turns out she has a part time job where men can rent her to be their girlfriend. And then her real boyfriend beat up her fake boyfriend.”

“Wait what? Shuya beat up some guy you were on a date with?” said Hanako and looked at Iyori.

“Well...”

“Hanako, did you know about this?” asked Akihito as Hanako wished she could swallow her words.

“Leave Hanako out of this, actually, leave me out of it too,” said Iyori.

“No, don’t think you can get out if it just like that, I need answers. Why do you have a job like that when you should be focusing on your school? And what is this thing about a stalker that the policeman mentioned? What exactly is going on in your life right now?” Iyori held her head low, still hiding behind Hanako, hoping it would all just go away if she stayed silent for long enough. 

Suddenly, Hanako moved a bit to the side and turned around to look at Iyori.

“Just tell them,” said Hanako. 

Iyori looked at her sister and then at her father, he expression firm and serious.

“Why? He won’t be able to get it after all.” Iyori suddenly ran forward, right past her father, her mother and Aiko, whereafter she grabbed her jacket, put on her shoes and dashed out of the house.

She just kept running, not even minding that the sun was about to set and the streets were near to empty. She couldn’t remember the last time she walked around on her own without feeling scared, but the only emotion there was room for in her body was frustration. Frustration with a mix of anger and sadness, feeling helpless and unable to think of anything to do but to keep running. 

So that was what she did. 

She ran until her feet couldn’t carry her anymore and instead she started walking. In a slow pace she walked down the streets and sidewalks of their district, wondering how she would be able to face her father again. 

Maybe I can stay out for long enough that he’ll simply go to sleep and forget about everything, thought Iyori to herself as she sat down on a bench and let her feet get a rest. 

She took out her phone and checked for any unread messages, but there were none. Shuya was probably having a just as uncomfortable conversation as she had. Would he be able to settle things with his parents? He probably had a better chance than her, although on the other hand, his temper was just as big as hers.

I guess that’s what I get for calling the police on him, thought Iyori and let out a sigh. 

In the same second, she heard footsteps approaching from afar, and the fear that had been buried deep inside her, suddenly showed up. 

She held her breath as the footsteps came closer. She thought about running, but her body was out of strength and she felt like she was glued to the bench.

A shadow became visible and she nearly let out a scream, until the streetlamp lit up his face and she saw her father walking towards her.

“Dad,” said Iyori in confusion, “What are you–”

“Just shut up and stay where you are,” said Akihito while walking towards her, whereafter he sat down next to her. “You’re too fast. I need some rest.”

“Did you run here?”

“Of course I did, I already told you that you aren’t getting out of this that easily,” said Akihito and Iyori diverted her eyes.

“I have nothing to say.”

“Really? Then why don’t I say something,” said Akihito and Iyori rolled her eyes, something which Akihito immediately noticed. "Would you just listen to me for once?"

"Fine..." said Iyori and leaned back on the bench. Akihito, on the other hand, leaned forward and folded his hands while resting his arms on his thighs, looking into the distance.

“When I was a young boy, I was never really good at anything. I was bad at school, I was bad at sports, I just gave up on getting an education and ended up taking some job at a local business after High School. Then I met your mother and even after seeing how much of a failure I was, she still said yes when I asked her to marry me.” Iyori lifted her head slightly, listening to her father telling a story she had only heard from her mother’s side until now.

“I have had various jobs, doing physical work, all so I could support my wife and later on my children as well. I love my family, but my work makes it hard for me to have any energy for them when I get home. I’m exhausted, but I still get up every day, because I want my children to have a better future than me. To have options.”

“I get it, and you don’t want me to waste my life and be a failure–”

“I didn’t I tell you to shut up? I’m telling you a story,” said Akihito and sighed. “Just... listen, okay?” Iyori nodded carefully and looked at her father.

“Imagine, just try to imagine that you’re in my shoes. And you see one of your daughters starting down the same road you were once on. You see her making the same mistakes, the same failures. Not that she is a failure, but she believes that is one. And she gives up before even trying. How would that make you feel?” Iyori thought for a while before she answered in a low voice.

“...Scared?”

“Scared, frustrated, angry... Angry at myself for not being able to convey my feelings well enough. Frustrated that my daughter can’t understand what I’m trying to do for her. Scared that she’ll eventually grow up to regret her life decisions just like I did.” Akihito stopped talking and turned his head, looking at Iyori for some sort of reaction.

“I understand... but... but that’s why I took this job,” said Iyori. “I felt like a failure in life, but this... this I could actually do. And I was good at it. I could do it well and I could earn money. I know it’s not something I can do my whole life, I know I’m just running away from my responsibilities, but it just felt nice to do something for a moment that I’m actually good at.”

“Thank you for telling me that,” said Akihito, even though he had a million other things he wanted to say instead. “But... since you know you can’t do this for the rest of your life, do you have a... a plan of some sort?”

“I do,” said Iyori firmly, surprising her father in the process. “I used to not think about the future at all, to be frank, you had every reason to worry about me. But then I met Shuya, and he made me believe in myself again.”

“Is he the one who has helped you study?” asked Akihito and Iyori nodded. 

“About that, I..." started Akihito. "I never apologized about how I reacted when you passed your exam. I’m sorry I didn’t support you more.”

“That’s okay,” said Iyori. “I didn’t exactly make it easy for you. I don’t really make it easy for a lot of people around me, Shuya included.”

“What do you mean?”

“After we started going out, I've been getting these weird text messages from a stranger.” Iyori took out her phone and showed the messages to her father. “It made me scared, and it made Shuya worry, but he had his own worries too. All I did was make life harder for him. How could he ever fix this for me anyway?” Akihito was still staring at the messages on Iyori’s phone.

“How long have you been getting these messages?”

“Um... I don’t know... 4-5 months maybe?”

“And why haven’t you showed this to me before? This guy is clearly stalking you. It can be dangerous, what if he tries to do something to you?” Akihito looked at Iyori with the same worry and fear that Shuya used to look at her with.

“I’m sorry,” said Iyori. “I just... If I told you this, I would have to tell you about my job, and if I did, you would make you quit.”

“You’re right I would!” said Akihito. “If I didn’t have enough reason already, then this is clearly too dangerous to overlook.”

“I guess you’re right,” said Iyori.

“I’m sorry you have to quit the job when you’re that fond of it,” said Akihito. “But I think it’s for the better, you’ll have more time to focus on your entrance exams as well.”

“Well, about that,” said Iyori. “I kinda decided not to take any entrance exams this year.” Akihito opened his mouth and raised his head, but Iyori beat him to it.

“Now, before you say anything, just hear me out,” said Iyori. “I want to go to University, I want to study art, but I started studying too late and I don’t want to get into just any University. I want to do it right, so I decided to take a year off and just go to prep school while I prepare for the entrance exams next year.” Akihito looked at Iyori in silence, making her heart beat even faster and her hands get sweatier.

“Dad?” said Iyori after a little while.

“S... Sorry...” said Akihito. “I was just surprised, you really gave it a lot of thought.” Iyori nodded.

“I did... I want to make a future for myself, even though it hurts to admit that you were right all along.” Akihito suddenly broke out in laughter and Iyori pouted.

“Don’t give me that look, that’s just how it is to be young,” said Akihito. “I’m just glad you know what you want now. I’ll support you wholeheartedly in this decision.”

“Thank you,” said Iyori.

“Alright, should we get back? It’s cold and your mother is probably out of her mind worrying about us.”

“I guess you’re right, let’s go.”

Hello everyone!

They finally had a heart to heart, this time Iyori couldn't run away. I hope you liked it, please let me know your thoughts in the comments down below.

Other than that, I hope you're doing well wherever you are, take care of yourself and stay safe!

Love, Annalise~