Highway Kyoto–Tokyo, 11:03 A.M.
The sky stretched gray over the highway.
The sun barely managed to filter through the clouds, casting dull flashes over the windshield.
The constant sound of the engine filled the silence, accompanied only by the intermittent tapping of tires against the wet asphalt.
Kaede kept both hands firmly on the steering wheel.
The dashboard read 110 km/h, but her mind was moving much faster.
Every kilometer felt like another weight on her chest.
The air inside the car was dense, filled with thoughts spinning without direction.
Her eyes, fixed on the road, reflected a difficult-to-contain mixture: anger, pain, and indignation.
"I know I had no right…"
"But he knew it, all this time… when I thought, that I didn't."
Her jaw tightened.
The echo of the words she had heard at the Muzashi Temple was still stuck in her head, repeating over and over like a wound that refused to close.
Kaede pressed the accelerator with a slight impulse, almost without noticing.
The roar of the engine responded with a deeper tone.
For a moment, she thought about stopping. About breathing. About not continuing to run away.
But she didn't.
"Why did you have to be like that?"
A distant horn brought her back to reality.
She took a deep breath, as if trying to expel what was suffocating her, but all it did was make the burning in her eyes more noticeable.
She wasn't going to cry. Not again.
She took one hand off the wheel, reached into the passenger seat for a bottle of water, and took a sip.
The water was warm.
Everything was warm.
The entire world seemed suspended in that midpoint between rage and resignation.
Through the radio, a song began playing softly.
A fragile, distant female voice sang about lost love.
Kaede changed stations abruptly.
The static noise was almost a relief.
"I don't know if it was what she talked about… or if Obaasan simply didn't want to leave me with doubt."
"But it didn't have to hurt like this."
The highway sign marked the distance:
Tokyo – 112 km.
Kaede loosened her grip slightly on the wheel, exhaled, and for the first time since leaving Kyoto, let a word escape her lips in an almost inaudible whisper:
—Idiot…
The echo of her voice was swallowed by the engine's noise.
But the tremor in her hands betrayed her.
And as the highway stretched endlessly before her,
Kaede knew she wasn't running away from Kyoto… but from the weight of what had happened four hours earlier, at the Muzashi Temple.
Four hours earlier
Kyoto City – Muzashi Family Temple – 7:01 A.M.
Dawn filtered through the stone gardens and the temple's withered cherry trees.
The breeze carried the faint scent of incense mixed with the humidity of old wood.
Aoi was seated in front of the low table in the main hall.
Her trembling hands held a cup of tea that was slowly cooling.
Each sip was a failed attempt to calm the weight pressing on her chest.
Five days had passed since the incident, and yet the echo of that event still lingered in the temple's walls.
The faint creak of the tatami pulled her from her thoughts.
Ishikawa Kaede and Ozawa Reina bowed respectfully as they crossed the threshold.
Both advanced with measured steps, careful even with the sound of their breathing.
Their expressions showed sincere concern.
They both had reasons to be there.
Everyone knew Brian and Makoto were the closest grandchildren to the elderly woman,
and that the first one, especially, had been more than a grandson: a constant shadow of affection and pride.
Reina spoke first, in a soft, almost maternal voice:
Reina: —"Are you alright?"
Obaasan Aoi: —"I'm fine, just a little shaken… please, sit down."
Both obeyed delicately.
The atmosphere was dense, filled with an invisible tension that slowly dissolved as Aoi regained her composure.
Then Reina, maintaining her diplomatic tone, continued:
Reina: —"I understand Makoto hasn't wanted to attend classes. The third term has barely started, but how has she been?"
Obaasan Aoi: —"She must be locked in her room now, she doesn't want to eat, she doesn't want to talk… she was really affected by this incident."
Reina: —"As I am the current student counselor at Senju Private Institute, it is my duty to know the psychological state of my students. Please inform her that, when she feels better… she must return to classes immediately."
Obaasan Aoi: —"I will tell her later. Although this tragedy is serious… Manako must not neglect her studies."
Silence settled for a few seconds.
Kaede, impatient, crossed her legs and looked directly at the elderly woman.
Her voice was more direct, though she tried to sound respectful.
Kaede: —"Obasan told me… that it was you, Obaasama, who found Brian-kun."
The trembling returned to the grandmother's hands.
Tears gathered without permission in her eyes, and her voice broke as she remembered.
Obaasan Aoi: —"When I saw him… I thought… I was going to lose him too."
Reina lowered her gaze with compassion. Kaede pressed her lips.
Both tried to comfort her.
Reina: —"Brian-kun is a strong man, I know he will recover… he always has."
Obaasan Aoi: —"My grandson is strong, but Dr. Sirizawa is not very optimistic that he will wake up soon… why do you say that?"
Reina: —"If he did it when he suffered that injury and endured Bryant-ojiisama's sudden death, I know he can do it again now."
Kaede: —"Reina-san is right. He managed to get up from that wheelchair. Now is not the time to show weakness, but to encourage ourselves and believe in him."
The elderly woman formed a small smile, barely visible.
The trembling in her hands ceased.
And then, with the calm that only age and experience bring, she said something that unsettled both young women:
Obaasan Aoi: —"I see my grandson was and is an idiot… for not choosing either of you, instead of that woman."
Silence was immediate.
Reina blushed, looking away.
Kaede shifted in her seat, clearing her throat softly to release the discomfort.
Kaede: —"Don't say that about Brian-kun… remembering how he was in the past, he would never have gone out with that woman if he hadn't seen something."
Obaasan Aoi: —"Something special in that woman? I don't think her beauty is that impressive… My grandson reminds me a lot of Bryant in those days when we were young, only he wasn't that stupid."
Reina: —"Well, with all respect… Brian is an idiot. When he was introduced in our class as an exchange student, in his first greeting he made that very clear… I remember Kaede and I had to put up with being his guides by order of the principal and the student council."
Obaasan Aoi: —"Really? I didn't know that?"
Kaede: —"Brian-kun back then… was a difficult classmate to tolerate."
Obaasan Aoi: —"My grandson never told me what he did when he studied here… he only confided that to his grandfather… they were very close."
Reina: —"Really!? Wow… I can only say Brian-kun was incredible or interesting. Every class with him was an experience."
Kaede: —"You say that because of sports, but he hid a very tender side."
Obaasan Aoi: —"I remember teachers always highlighted his athletic ability, and I also remember seeing some of his matches, but… my sensitive grandson?"
Kaede: —"That surprised me too when I saw it. Behind that idiot attitude… there was actually such a cute boy."
Aoi's gaze softened, but her eyes, sharp, sparkled with curiosity.
Obaasan Aoi: —"So it was at that moment… where you set your eyes on my grandson?"
Kaede lowered her gaze, biting her lip nervously.
Then she raised her eyes, pretending indifference.
Kaede: —"That was a long time ago. I was in middle school, Brian-kun at that time was the foreign, misfit, and very outstanding boy. I think it was normal that I got interested, right?"
Obaasan Aoi: —"You still are interested, aren't you?"
Kaede tensed.
She knew lying wouldn't work, so she chose elegant evasion.
Kaede: —"Brian-kun is… a great friend, he was a very happy part of my adolescence… but that was a long time ago. The only thing I care about is his friendship."
Aoi smiled subtly.
She didn't insist, but the gleam in her eyes betrayed that she didn't fully believe her.
Obaasan Aoi: —"Alright, I understand. But at least… can you tell me how you fell in love with him?"
Reina: —"That's right, you've never said it."
Kaede glared at her, trapped in her own snare.
Kaede: —"Fine, I'll do it, but only if you also say it, Reina-san."
Reina: —Sigh* "I will, don't doubt it, after all we are adults now."
Obaasan Aoi: —"Go ahead."
Kaede exhaled slowly and began.
Kaede: —"I suppose my interest started from his first year here… his lack of etiquette and strange way of greeting didn't help him. He was immediately excluded, although he didn't even notice. From the very beginning he looked so thoughtful and at the same time cheerful… he was an enigma. What made me hate him like the rest was the fact that he always treated everyone so casually."
Reina: —"Wait, you also hated him in silence?"
Obaasan Aoi: —"So both of you detested my grandson?"
Reina, Kaede (at the same time): —Sorry.
Obaasan Aoi: —"Don't worry, I can understand it. After all, he grew up almost all his life in the West. Even I have been slightly influenced by him. Without further delay, please continue."
Kaede: —"Now I see I tolerated him in silence along with Reina, teaching him traditions as requested by the principal. But it was at the first school festival… I had observed him with Morizaki Ishiro that week. And we all knew Morizaki was in love with Hamasaki Akane. At that festival, Morizaki took her to some stairs and I followed them…"
Reina: —"Why did you follow them?"
Obaasan Aoi: —"Let her finish."
Kaede: —"Morizaki read Akane-san a letter and asked her to look back… and when she did, the festival lights formed the words: "I love you Akane"."
Reina: —"What, how?"
Obaasan Aoi: —"It must be recognized that that young man was very creative."
Kaede: —"No… let me finish. Brian-kun had been helping with the festival preparation. Morizaki didn't lift a finger… and I heard Brian-kun say exactly the same thing that was written in that letter."
Reina: —"So it was him…"
Kaede: —"Yes. The one who organized everything. Not just for Morizaki… he also helped others confess that night."
Obaasan Aoi: —"My grandson did that?… How horrible."
Kaede: —"I thought so too. Akane-san found out and confronted him. She treated him badly, I must say. But it was his apology that made me notice him."
Reina: —"You were there?"
Kaede: —"I was the one who told Hamasaki-san everything."
Obaasan Aoi: —"What did my grandson say?"
Kaede: —"You don't know what it means to hold back and hide feelings that make you sigh at night. I helped Ishiro because he didn't know how to convince you of the truth of his feelings… I helped him because it was also a way to shape an idea that was only gathering dust in my heart… because I have no one to dedicate it to."
Reina: —"He said that?"
Kaede: —"Yes. Those words captivated something in me, and from that moment I wanted to know him more."
Silence deepened.
Aoi lowered her gaze, reflecting on those words.
Obaasan Aoi: —"So… my grandson deliberately hid that side of himself?" (Why, what made you lock yourself in?)
The air thickened.
Kaede shifted uncomfortably and, with a forced smile, changed the subject.
Kaede: —"Your turn, Reina-san."
Reina: —"Alright."
Reina stood up and began walking slowly through the room.
Her tone was controlled, but her hands trembled.
Reina: —"I hated him, I really hated him… his stupid dances, his lack of formality, his arrogance, his sarcastic comments… he was unbearable to me. I'm not exaggerating when I say it felt like hell teaching him our trends, and his personality didn't help."
Obaasan Aoi: —"So this is a hate-to-love story."
Reina: —"You could say that. But I suppose everything changed after the regional school tournament. My team lost humiliatingly. I was blamed as the culprit. I decided to stay alone in the gym… I didn't want to see anyone."
Kaede: —"That must have been very hard for you… but how did you fall in love with him?"
Reina: —"I heard someone crying. It was Brian-kun. He was lying on the floor looking at the ceiling. I couldn't understand it… he had carried his team, and yet he was crying."
Obaasan Aoi: —"Ah, I remember he was very down when they won the tournament, so much that he ran away and we couldn't find him." (So he hid in the gym.)
Reina: —"I thought he was crazy. But hearing him… I cried too."
He said something like: "I won but I didn't win. Everyone treats me the same. I don't even have reasons to play anymore… I wanted to prove what I was capable of… but it was useless. It never helps… and now everyone will pressure me for what they saw. I don't want that, I don't want to keep meeting other people's expectations."
Kaede: —"And what did you do?"
Reina: —"I approached him. I motivated him. He was surprised to see me, wiped his tears, and asked why I cared. I confessed I admired him."
Obaasan Aoi: —"And what did he say?"
Reina: —"Thank you. You are a true friend. And now, for you… only for you… I won't leave sports while I study here in Japan."
Kaede: —"He played those four championships for you!?"
Reina: —"That's right… how could I not fall in love with a man who was motivated to play just for me?"
Kaede: —"My story isn't as beautiful as I thought anymore… but do you know what it means that you're telling us this?"
Reina: —"Yes… If Brian had left then, maybe he would never have suffered that injury, and maybe… Bryant-ojiisama would still be alive."
Obaasan Aoi: —"Don't say that… you were young. That "maybe" is just a maybe. No matter what you had decided, that was my husband's destiny."
Reina: —"Thank you… you don't know how long I've carried that thought."
Obaasan Aoi: —"Now that you mention it… my husband spoke about you shortly before his death."
Reina, Kaede: —"What? Bryant-ojiisama, when?"
Obaasan Aoi: —He told me: "Brian is at a crossroads… he has feelings for one… but he can't help feeling many things for those two."
Kaede: —"So he was aware of my feelings… and that's why he never contacted us after recovering in the West."
Reina: —"So that bastard wanted us as something more and still left us."
Obaasan Aoi: —"If you know my grandson well, you know he is very legalistic with his ideals… he would never play with or hurt someone he loves. He would rather distance himself and heal alone."
Reina: —"Do you think it's fair to leave without saying anything?"
Kaede: —"Do you know how many times I thought he hated me or that I did something to make him do that?"
Obaasan Aoi: —"My grandson is not perfect… but he is never indecisive. By doubting between you and choosing to run away… the love he had for you must have been very great."
Reina: —"Don't justify it… he should have chosen."
Kaede: —"Reina-san is right, he should have chosen."
Obaasan Aoi: —"You will ask him that when he wakes up."
Silence returned.
Both women had moist eyes, contained frustration, and nostalgia in the air.
Reina: —"If he wakes up…"
Kaede: —"I spent ten years of my life trying to forget him… I hoped that when I saw him again, I would feel nothing… but I was wrong. I don't want to wait for him… in fact, I won't do it again."
Reina: —"I know Brian's condition is delicate… but I'll say it: your grandson was always a coward."
Both stood up solemnly.
Reina lowered her head; Kaede, rigid, pressed her lips, containing the tremor in her voice.
They left the room without looking back.
Aoi remained alone.
The tea in front of her had already gone cold.
The elderly woman sighed, looking at the garden beyond the window.
Obaasan Aoi: —"Oh, my grandson… why did you have to be certain about everything, except love?"