Like all of his failures previously, it didn't take much long for Hiruka to get over what had happened, and the person who gave him hope then trampled over it all now faded completely from his mind, as if that meeting in Ahnenerbe that shook up his whole life although only in a short while never occurred. It's hard to believe how much his life was shaken up in only a little less than a year. But he has, and will, never the kind of person who ponder too much at what had passed. Life still goes on, and for the moment, Hiruka had been determined that he will only live for himself, and never to let another to step into his heart ever again.
The past three months have been rather eventful for Hiruka. He, along with the Miyashiro siblings had finally been recognized internationally, as they were invited to be hairdressers for supermodels during various fashion shows in Europe, including Milan where he had dreamed of going to for as long as he could remember. With that, Arisu's popularity continued to rocket, and his hands barely had a moment to rest from clipping and spraying. But he certainly enjoyed it to the fullest, like he has always been with hairdressing.
Hiruka had also made one of the boldest choices of his life during the past three months: cutting his own hair. When he came up with this decision, Makoto and the three siblings were shocked to no end. But they found no reasons to stop him either. So, the most surprised person upon hearing this news, Madoka with a hair fetish, insisted that he simply
must be the one to have the 'privilege' of doing Hiruka's hair. And he did. He had made sure that he collected every strand of Hiruka's cut hair afterwards, and probably has been keeping them as some sorts of treasure. Except for the three of them, everyone who knows of this will find Madoka to be weird, for certain. As for Hiruka, his new look came off as a bit unfamiliar with those whom he is acquainted with, but the blue color of his hair can still easily make him stand out, and most guys still surrendered to his seduction, anyway.
Asides from these, Hiruka's life goes on as similarly as before he met Yutaro again. He still hangs around Ahnenerbe on an almost daily routine, he still sleeps around and be the wild dream of the men around the 2-choume district. A while ago, Hiruka and Makoto made a trip to Hiroshima to visit their family, and they are still doing fine as ever. The question whether if the two of them have intended to settle down yet was inevitably brought up. Hiruka tried to avoid talking about it, but thanks to their understandings, everything went well. His family knows that he will do what are best for his life.
Everything seems to went on as well as it could have.
"Sorayuki-senpai, thank you so much for accepting. This really is the most perfect day in my life." A young
woman said with a smile as she looked at herself in the mirror, while Hiruka is doing her hair for her. She is wearing a stunning wedding dress, and is only a while away from her big moment.
"It was nothing, Kaori-san." Hiruka replied, he is also an attendant of the wedding and is wearing a formal suit,
"I was thinking of calling you right away when I heard that you were returning to Japan too. Seemed like everything goes well for you, huh?""Yes. There have been moments of high and low but I'm glad to be where I am now. Though, it's hard to believe that I used to imagine the man standing out there waiting for me to be you instead of Vincent. I'm such a dreamy girl back then." Hiruka chuckled,
"I dare not to dream of it." Kaori used to be the queen of the school Hiruka went to back when the two of them were still students. While there are countless of boys dying to have a chance to go out with her, she harbored a big crush for him. On Hiruka's graduation day, Kaori confessed her feelings, but unsurprisingly, was turned down by him. She was saddened very much because of it, but eventually let it go. They remained as friends still and occasionally still contacting each other. Years later, she traveled abroad to study and met a nice foreign man, who was to be the man waiting for her outside of the dressing room they are in. Apparently they have decided to return to Japan to make their wedding, and she had personally invited Hiruka to be her stylist and hairdresser, with her dress, accessories and hairstyles all chosen by him, after hearing his reputation at the fashion shows he went to.
"Have you found that person yet?" Kaori suddenly asked. Hiruka was taken off a bit at the question, knowing clearly whom she is referring to.
He just shook his head,
"I've pretty much given up now to be honest. Probably I'll just live like this and be happy with it." He said as he gave some finishing touches to Kaori's hair and place the bride's veil atop of her head.
"Well, I know you have been having a bunch of bad luck, but I don't think you should stop your search yet. I have been and always will be believing in fate, and I can be certain that it will not treat a man like you poorly.""What do you mean?" Hiruka chuckled,
"I'm like fate's worst child ever. Life is pretty unfair, y'know."Kaori shook her head,
"Do you know the reason I fell for you back then? No matter how much hardships that have befallen you, there still existed a pure goodness and innocence inside you. How do I say this... it's pretty much like a child, I guess? Everyone can rest assure and feel relaxed around you, and whenever you come around, the space lightened up a bit. Everything suddenly became easier, and simply by that, everyone is captivated by you. So too am I.""Heh. Well, I'm not that much of a highly person...""Don't be so humble. I know you are. And I also know for sure that the rewards for your long wait is waiting just ahead of you. Have you ever thought that, fate was just merely challenging you for one last time, before giving you your ultimate reward? It is simply preventing you from having your ways, because it is only waiting to give you the best of bests at the right moment. That's why, I hope you will not give up, because that's who you are." Kaori said with much assurance.
Hiruka pondered a bit over what she said. It's true that he didn't really think of his life in such a way. He believes his whole life has always been just a joke, and nothing more. Like he was born to be a play toy for all the jerks in the world. Maybe...
"I will think about it." He said simply, before smiling,
"It's time. You ready?"Kaori nodded, grinning brightly before fixing her dress nicely and stood up,
"Wish me luck, senpai." She said as the two of them then headed out of the dressing chamber. The ceremony then began and everyone was wowed by Kaori's look as she walked up to the man of her life. As the two of them exchanged their vows and kissed, everyone cheered, including Hiruka. He remembered so long ago he used to dream of a wedding like this, but it has long become a childish wish.
Yet, Kaori's words have brought up feelings and thoughts he have been trying to kill off, and a very faint flame of hope seemed to flare up in his heart, once more.
The newlywed couple are now happily travelling on their honeymoon in Maldives, and Hiruka couldn't help but feeling a bit envious with them, but he still has work to focus on. Recently, it seemed that Snowflower had just released a new album, and being their fan, Kazuki has been replaying them over and over again on the radio for the good two days the songs were played. Hiruka was either focusing on other matters or wasn't presented so it didn't even bother him.
But, he couldn't deny that some thoughts have been disturbing him after the wedding, and
that person has begun to surface yet again. Of course, he'd tried to pull them all out of his mind, but there hadn't been much hope, so he figured he should just bear with it until it passes.
The morning shift went on peacefully without much fuss, and when lunch break came, it was Hiruka's turn to stop by the
conbini near Arisu's to buy lunch for everyone. But two of the most unexpected of persons were waiting for him outside the salon: Yuki and Jun.
"Ruru-san! It's been so long, I really missed you." Yuki almost squealed when she saw him as she run towards him and gave him a hug, though moments later when she gazed up, she seemed obviously surprised to see that a large part of Hiruka's hair had disappeared.
"D-Did you cut your hair?"He was totally taken aback when he saw her, but then just smiled gently and rubbed her head,
"Hey there, Yuki-chan. Long time no see. And yes, I've had it cut a little while ago. Not too bad, don't you think?"Then, he shifted his gaze to Jun, who was merely standing and watching the two of them. He kept his smile, yet his eyes were blank. He had refrained from running into
his acquaintances as long as he could, knowing it wouldn't be pretty keeping in contact with them. Though if the two of them are here, then there must be something they are dying to let him know,
"Well, it's been a while. Are you here to make my life a living, burning hell then?" He said sarcastically. This is actually the first time they properly converse after Jun's attempt to threaten him at Ahnenerbe, though.
The silver-haired guy sighed and scratched his head,
"Look, I know I have been rather unwelcoming. And my attempts at scaring you off failed miserably, apparently. But I guess you've already figured out that I didn't know you a whole lot back then, so I was merely judging you by what I saw, and as you know, Yuta is ignorant as hell. I just don't want him to pick up bad habits, that's all."Hiruka nodded in acknowledgement, though he didn't have any intentions of continuing this conversation much longer, even if Yuki is here, so he went straight to the point,
"And may I ask if any of those got to do with me any longer? It's been three months, I'm sure even if he didn't tell you, you guys already would already have figured it out from him of what had happened. I've simply added him up in my 'list', and it's my rule that I cut all associations with those from that 'list' and their acquaintances. So if you have any unfinished businesses that you haven't dealt with me, please go ahead, and we'll go our own ways. Do be hurry because my boss is not going to be happy if she's not getting her lunch in time."Jun sighed again. Apparently he never thought Hiruka could be this cold when it comes to those who had wronged him, but he didn't want to give up before he tried.
"I know what Yuta said to you hurt you a lot, and you have all the rights to hate him. But like I've said, he is so ignorant that if he is sitting in a room and the world was turned upside down outside, he wouldn't even notice unless someone outright say so to him. He's stubborn as hell, and his sensitivity is comparable to that of a brick. I cannot say that his loss can match up to what you have been through, but I can be certain that saying those words, he is as painful as you are."At this point, Hiruka seemed to be more eager to listen, so Jun cleared his throat and continued,
"It's been so long since his wife passed away, but he still cannot get over it. Sometimes I felt like it's not because he couldn't, but he refused to, as it would tarnish those time the two of them were still together, so he thought. When he found out that you were the childhood friend he cherishes, even I have to admit that he finally had changed for the better after so long. But he was torn between his love for Hana, and his feelings for you. He thought being with you is the same as using you as a substitute for her, and that would hurt you even more. But I know Yuta was never the one to be good with his words, and it leads to where we are now. Of course, you can think that all that I've said is just made up, but looking at him after the past three months, I have no doubts that he hadn't given up on you, and he never will."Yuki nodded and continued where Jun left off, while pulling out a phone and showed Hiruka a video recording Yutaro's efforts in composing the recently released album,
"Usually it would take tou-san and everyone at least a whole year, or maybe years, just to release an album, but this time he tried really hard to finish it as soon as he can. I even saw him staying up for a whole week to get his songs done. Please believe me, Ruru-san!" She said with much assurance.
Hiruka remained silenced as he watched the video Yuki showed him. For the first time ever in his life, he was truly at a loss of words. And, for the first time, he realized that there still existed someone who would gone this far for him, unlike any of those whom he had the displeasure to fell for. Jun then pulled out an album titled 'Aoi Sora', which is obviously their newly released album, with the cover showing a person with a long hair in shades of blue, a clear reference to Hiruka himself, and a ticket clipped with a document of sorts,
"Tonight is going to be Yuta's first solo concert ever since we debut. This will grant you access to the best seat, and allow you bring along all of your friends and acquaintances free of charge. Me and Yu-chan may not be able to show you wholeheartedly of what he is trying to get to you right now, but I'm sure you will understand when you are there. So please, for the bonds you and he once had, if nothing else..." Jun suddenly bowed while still holding the album and the ticket in front of Hiruka,
"...I hope you can come.""Yes, please come, Ruru-san!" Yuki grinned and went to stood next Jun, then bowed to him herself.
This immediately began to catch the attention of the bywalkers around them. To prevent them from making too much of a scene, Hiruka reluctantly took the ticket and the album from Jun, while shifted his gaze elsewhere,
"I... will think about it." He said to them. Yuki clapped her hands in delight and thanked him, and the two of them then took their leaves.
Everything happened so sudden that he doesn't know how to think or feel anymore. Again, for the first time ever, Hiruka was truly put in a stalemate. He couldn't put his mind into his lunch, or his work, as his thoughts now were all about whether he should go or not. Kasumi was quick to notice this, so she allowed him to take his leave early to work it out, thankfully.
When he made it back home, Makoto was surprised to see him got home early. Hiruka then told his brother of all that had happened earlier that day. It is also then that he also confessed of having threatened Yutaro not to show his face in front of him, which he seemed to listen to quite obediently hence why they never run into him during the past three months. He had no opinions about this, since he himself was pushing him away, without questioning whether his heart really meant it to.
"So, should I go?""It depends on whether you still decided to trust him or not. I don't think those two were lying. I definitely wouldn't want to see him again if I were you, but after all, only you can decide what to do with your life."
Dusk eventually falls and it was almost time for the concert. Leaving his home, Hiruka didn't dress as showing as usual. Instead, he wore simple clothing tonight, with a hoodie to cover his standoffish hair. He walks silently on the street without bumping into anyone, listening to the music from his headphones. The concert wasn't that far from his apartment, but somehow, the trek there seemed to become so, so long.
In the end, he still decided to go. Although Jun had said that he may tag his friends along, he figured that it's better that he went by himself. Whether it is another big lie or not, Hiruka simply didn't care anymore. He was hurt so much that it pretty much has become dulled by now.
Entering the concert hall, Hiruka sneaked himself past the crowds of eager fans and showed the ticket to the security guard, who personally led him to a viewing balcony the oversees the whole hall and the stage where the band will perform. Though, when he got there, he was caught by surprise once again.
There, he saw that there was a small box placed with a small bouquet of anemone flowers, which he didn't know whether to be merely coincidental or intentional, is also his favorite flower. But what caught his attention right away were two small bracelets braided from woolen threads. He thought they were lost, but didn't realize that Yutaro had been keeping them all along. Caressing the two bracelets in his palm, a smile somehow managed to make its way on Hiruka's lips. When he gazed at all the black-white pictures of them inside his box, he almost felt his heart skipped a beat. A young, girlish boy with long, blue hair smiling innocently and a taller, dark hair boy with a mischievous grin stared back at him. Memories of a once happy time slowly rewound inside his mind, like a video tape.
So, he does remember it all? Hiruka sheepishly thought. A pinch of skepticism is still presented in his heart, yet for a second, he could almost felt as if that night at the club never occurred at all. As if a sleeping warmth is beginning to woke up inside him after a long slumber. But, even now, he still doesn't know for sure of how he should feel, or what he should do.
Suddenly, the familiar spoke up from the stage, which made Hiruka shifted his attention from the memorabilia to the stage below. They haven't seen each other for only three months, yet Hiruka almost felt like it's already been ages. Each of the words that came through the speaker somehow sound... genuine, and quite emotional. He simply didn't know how to react just yet. But one thing he cannot deny, he is feeling hopeful, as if he was yearning for the good time he had just had merely months ago to return.
When the first song began, the auditorium light changed its' shape into some sorts of a 3D presentation, with the characters spelling out 'Meet me there.' Of course, Hiruka knows all too well what is it referring to, but for now, that fades into the back of his mind, as he had already immersed in the melody without realizing it. When Yutaro is already on his third song, Hiruka was surprised when he felt a warm stream of water on his cheek.
He was crying,
again. But this time, it was completely different than three months ago. While all he can felt was agony back then, his heart now is filled with happiness. He was touched, not just because of the songs that depicted the relationship between them so accurately, but also because now he had realized just how wrong he was. He was blinded by his own pain, and he failed from realizing that this very person who is singing passionately down there never truly wanted to give him up.
"...it is only waiting to give you the best of bests at the right moment."Kaori's words suddenly boomed inside his head, reminding him that he is no longer too far from earning his well-deserved happiness that he had yearned for all of his life, that all the pain he had gone through will finally be paid off. Very soon.
Yutaro's concert is only half-way from finishing, but Hiruka had finally made up his mind. No matter what happened afterwards, he'll no longer have any regrets. He will truly live a meaningful life, regardless of how will things turn out. But he most certainly cannot deny that, he wanted Yutaro not to disappoint him this time. He placed the memorabilia back to their places, and stepped down from the viewing balcony, hastily made his way to the exit of the concert hall.
This time, instead of heading home, Hiruka took a taxi to the opposite direction, to Yutaro's apartment. As expected when he stepped up to the door, no one was presented at home. He took out a small piece of sticking note paper and written down some words, and stuck it on the door, then left and went back home before anyone could notice.
Tomorrow afternoon. 5:00 PM
I will be waiting there
Hiruka
.
The afternoon breeze blows softly on the street of the small town. The orange sunshine glazed over the whole town. High school students chatted happily as they walked in groups to hang out after school, or heading back to their home. It has been so many years since Hiruka lived here, and nothing looks the same as they were. But, he can still feel a sense of familiarity, as if he is living his childhood day again.
After finishing with his shift this morning, Hiruka immediately took the latest train to Miyagi prefecture, to the town where the two of them once lived. It was a rather long 4-hour trip, but compared with the span of time he had been waiting until now, it was nothing. He had never returned to this town ever since he moved to Hiroshima with his family, yet he still remembered all the streets and all the places as if it was only yesterday.
Everything had changed drastically. Wooden houses are no longer presented, and are replaced by cement buildings and houses in different blocks. The streets are no longer rocky, but have been rebuilt completely. The old house where he used to live had nothing in resemblance to how he remembered it was. The town has completely changed. Yet, somehow, he has a feeling that
that place is still remaining, despite the news he had just heard about it earlier from some of the locals he happened to passed by, and it is waiting for them to see it one last time before becoming a piece of memory.
Navigating his way through the streets, sneaking himself across the small alley, just like how it was when he was small, Hiruka eventually made it to the place where all of his childhood remained. The small treehouse hanging over a gigantic oak tree. The secret hideout that he and Yutaro once used to get away from the world.
"I'm back." He muttered quietly as he gazed up to the house, smiling lightly. Putting his hands into his jacket's pockets, Hiruka quietly closes his eyes. Slowly, he can heard the voices of the two boys from so long ago, chatting happily without a care in the world as they walked up to the treehouse. Now, he will wait for the other half of his memory to show up, but he can be assured now that it shouldn't be too long.
Whether for the better or the worse, Hiruka's life will change for one last time after this meeting.