Chapter 22: Kenji’s Past Part 2

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Translator: Soafp

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[Kenji PoV]

As I looked into Ryota’s tired eyes, my heart sank at his words. I had met Ryota’s mom on several occasions when I visited their house to play. I had witnessed their close relationship firsthand, seeing how much Ryota cared for his mother. The thought of her being in the hospital struck a chord deep within me.

I remembered the warmth and kindness in her eyes as she welcomed me into their home. She was a gentle and caring woman who always looked out for Ryota, and hearing her in such a vulnerable state was difficult to bear.

“She has to undergo an surgery , but my mother said it will be fine.”

“When will the surgery be happening?”

“This Saturday around 1 pm…”

“Let’s wait together at the hospital until the surgery is done.”

“You want to come with me?”

“Of course, she needs all the support she can get and you shouldn’t have to go through this alone, Ryota. We’re in this together.”

“Thank you, Kenji.”

I had spent enough time with him to recognize that he wasn’t always emotionally stable, especially during challenging times like this.

I recalled a particular instance during a school project when Ryota became visibly overwhelmed and struggled to keep his composure. It was a small glimpse into the depth of his emotions, a reminder that beneath his cheerful exterior, there were layers of vulnerability.

As we continued our journey to school, I made a mental note to keep a close eye on Ryota in the days to come. I knew that he would need all the support he could get, and I was determined to be there for him every step of the way.

The last thing I want is him becoming like my father

As Saturday arrived, the weight of anticipation hung heavy in the air as Ryota and I made our way to the hospital. With just 20 minutes left until his mother’s surgery, the tension was palpable.

“I hope everything will be alright…”

Ryota’s voice trembled with uncertainty.

“Of course it will. Just believe in it.”

I tried to inject some positivity into the somber atmosphere. In the past few days, since learning of his mother’s hospitalization, Ryota’s spirits had plummeted, weighed down by worry and fear.

Our usual routines had been put on hold as he wasn’t in the mood to do any of them. No more trips to the arcade or leisurely afternoons at the cafe.

We quietly walked to the hospital. We had 10 minutes left when arrived, Ryota went immediately to his mother’s room.

When we arrived in the room, his mother was awake with her back leaning against the bed.

“Ah Ryota.”

“Mom…”

“Don’t look sad, Ryota. It will be fine. When the surgery is done, there is nothing to worry about.”

His mother reassured him, yet the flicker of uncertainty in her eyes betrayed her true feelings. It was as if she was silently praying for everything to turn out as she said, but deep down, there was a lingering doubt.

“Yes, you are right. There is nothing to be worried about.”

Then, his mother turned to me with a heartfelt expression.

“Ah, Kenji-kun. Thank you for always taking care of Ryota.”

Her voice filled with gratitude as she bowed her head.

“Don’t be. I am the one that should be grateful.”

I replied with sincerity, offering a small smile in return to his mother’s expression of gratitude.

“Ah, Ryota. I am thirsty could you get some water for me?”

“Of course, I will be back in a second.”

He left the room, leaving his mother and me alone.

“Is there something you want to talk about without Ryota in the room?”

“As expected of you, Kenji-kun. You could already tell. But yes, there is something I want to tell you.”

The tension in the room began to escalate as she spoke.

“There is a low chance that the surgery will be successful.”

“But didn’t you tell Ryota that it will be fine?”

“That was to ease his mind. Ryota’s emotions tend to get overwhelmed by things he cares about.”

“…Yes, I have noticed.”

I admitted quietly, recalling the times when Ryota’s emotions had threatened to overwhelm him.

“So, Kenji-kun. Could you hear my request?”

“Of course.”

“Please take care of Ryota now and in the future.”

Her voice trembling with emotion as tears welled up in her eyes.

“Please raise your head. Even if you hadn’t said it, I would do it. Ryota has helped me in my darkest time. So, it is only natural to do the same for him.”

“Thank you, Kenji-kun.”

She whispered gratefully, her voice barely above a whisper.

After a few minutes, Ryota returned with a cup of water.

“I am back. Here, mother, your water.”

“Thank you, Ryota,”

She took the cup and drank from it.

Glancing at the clock, she noted the time.

“It is almost time for my surgery. Thank you for visiting me.”

“We will be waiting in the waiting room until the surgery is done.”

With a final wave, we left the room and headed towards the waiting area.

“What did you and Mom talked about?”

“About what we have been doing in the past days.”

“Hmm…”

Ryota’s response was noncommittal, but I could sense that he wasn’t entirely convinced.

Ignoring his lingering suspicion, we made our way to the waiting area and took our seats, preparing ourselves for the anxious wait until the surgery was over.

Two hours passed and… the surgery was not successful. The tumor couldn’t be removed.

When Ryota heard the news, he couldn’t hold back his tears. It was heart-wrenching to see him in such agony, and I struggled to find the right words to comfort him.

Unable to visit his mother as she needed rest, we left the hospital with a heavy sense of loss weighing on our hearts.

In the days that followed, we continued to make regular visits to the hospital. I did my best to keep Ryota company, offering whatever support I could to help him through this difficult time.

However, on one particular visit, as Ryota remained inside his mother’s room, I waited outside, a sense of foreboding weighing heavily on my mind. Deep down, I knew that this day would inevitably come—it was only a matter of when.

And sadly, that day arrived sooner than we had hoped.

Ryota emerged from the room with red, swollen eyes, the pain of loss etched into every line of his face. I could empathize with his grief, having experienced the loss of my own mother. The raw anguish he was experiencing was something no one should ever have to endure.

As he approached me, I reached out, offering him a comforting embrace, silently conveying my unwavering support and understanding during this darkest of times.

With a heavy heart, I walked beside Ryota as we left the hospital, the weight of his grief palpable in the air around us. Words felt inadequate in the face of such profound loss, so I remained by his side in silence, offering him the solace of my presence.

In the days that followed, the pain of Ryota’s loss hung over us like a dark cloud. I did my best to be there for him, lending a listening ear and a shoulder to lean on whenever he needed it.

But grief is a journey that must be walked alone, and as much as I wanted to ease Ryota’s burden, I knew that this was a path he had to navigate in his own time and in his own way.

That is what I have learned during my darkest time.

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After his mother’s death, Ryota’s once bright spirit dimmed, replaced by a palpable gloom that seemed to follow him wherever he went.

This change in demeanor made him a target for bullies at school, who preyed on his vulnerability with cruel words and actions.

As the days passed and we moved on to the next grade, Ryota found himself isolated, with no new friends to turn to for support.

I did my best to protect Ryota from the torment of his bullies, but my efforts seemed futile against the relentless onslaught of cruelty he faced.

No matter how fiercely I stood up for him, the taunts and jeers only seemed to grow louder, driving him further into solitude and despair.

It was heartbreaking to watch him suffer in silence, his once vibrant personality overshadowed by the weight of his grief and the cruelty of his peers.

Despite my best efforts, I couldn’t shield him from the pain he endured on a daily basis.

What infuriated me even more was the audacity of the girls who had been bullying Ryota.

They had the nerve to confess their feelings for me, oblivious to the pain they had caused Ryota. Don’t they see how much he’s hurting?

The disgust I felt towards them was overwhelming.

I rejected every single girl involved in the bullying in a cold manner, while responding kindly to those who weren’t involved.

Dating was the last thing on my mind amidst the turmoil Ryota was facing.

I dedicated my time to helping him, being there whenever he needed support, just as he had been for me during my darkest days.

Whether it was a simple word of encouragement, a shared joke, or a spontaneous outing to lift his spirits, I did whatever I could to bring a smile to his face.

Yet, despite my best efforts, it took time for Ryota’s smile to return fully. The wounds of his past ran deep, and there was still lingering pain inside him that refused to be easily erased.

I watched as he navigated through the ups and downs of his journey, offering my unwavering support every step of the way.

There were moments of progress, small victories that hinted at the possibility of healing, but there were also setbacks that threatened to derail his progress.

Through it all, I remained by his side, a steadfast presence in his life, ready to lend a listening ear or a comforting shoulder whenever he needed it.

And though the road to recovery was fraught with challenges, I had faith that Ryota would eventually find peace within himself.

As time passed, I began to see glimmers of hope shining through the darkness that had consumed him. His laughter became more genuine, his smiles more frequent, and the pain that had once weighed heavily on his heart began to ease.

But even as he took strides toward healing, I knew that the journey was far from over.

There were still scars that needed to be healed, wounds that needed to be tended to.

And though the road ahead would be difficult, I was confident that with time and support, Ryota would find the strength to overcome the pain of his past and embrace a brighter future.

However, that hope was shattered when Ryota crossed paths with Yuto. From that moment on, everything seemed to spiral downhill.