Chapter 27: Mail

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Translator: Soafp

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[Kenji PoV]

Ayame Mano, my mother. Seeing her name in my inbox stirred up a whirlwind of emotions. What could she possibly want after all this time? Is she seeking redemption, or is this just another ploy to disrupt our lives?

As I stared at the screen, contemplating whether to open the email, a wave of uncertainty washed over me.

“Would it be wise to open old wounds, or should I simply ignore her attempt to reach out?”

The rational part of me urged to just delete the email and move on. After all, my mother’s departure had brought nothing but chaos and pain to our family. Forgiveness seemed like an impossible feat, especially considering the scars she had left behind.

Her absence had taken its toll on me, shaping my relationship with my father and fueling my own struggles with anger and resentment. Opening that email could potentially reopen old wounds and reignite the turmoil of the past.

With a decisive nod, I made up my mind.

“To the bin with you.”

I muttered, clicking the delete button and letting go of any lingering doubts.

Walking away from the computer, I made my way to the kitchen. The room was quiet, with no sign of my father. Perhaps he is still working.

Alone in the kitchen, I decided to make myself a simple meal, grabbing ingredients from the fridge and pantry. As I prepared dinner, the rhythmic clinking of utensils against pots and pans filled the air, a comforting sound that echoed in the empty room.

Once the meal was ready, I plated it up and sat down at the table, savoring each bite as I ate in silence. The food may have been simple, but it nourished both body and soul, filling me with a sense of contentment and gratitude.

As I finished cleaning the dishes, the familiar sound of the door opening echoed through the house.

“I’m home!”

“Welcome back. How was work?”

I called out, turning towards the hallway.

“Good…especially since I got my first paycheck!”

He flashed me a peace sign, his face lit up with excitement.

Ah, that’s right. It’s been a month already since he started his new job. Time really does fly.

“Say, want to go out for dinner?”

“That sounds great, but unfortunately, I’ve already eaten.”

“Hmm, how about some ice cream then? There’s always room for dessert.”

He insisted, his enthusiasm infectious.

“I don’t really…”

“Come on, let this old man treat you. It’s been a while since I’ve done that.”

He flashed me a smile, and I couldn’t help but notice how much brighter it seemed lately. Ever since he made that change, he’s been smiling a lot more.

“Alright then. I’ll grab my jacket.”

“Let’s gooooo~”

He cheered, practically skipping towards the living room.

Shaking my head at his antics, I headed upstairs to fetch my jacket and phone. Glancing around my room, I made sure I hadn’t forgotten anything before closing the door behind me and descending the stairs.

“Dad, I’m ready”

I called out as I reached the bottom.

“Coming.”

I held the door open as my father stepped through, then closed it behind him with a gentle click.

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[Nao’s PoV]

Ever since the trial, Nii-san’s words have been echoing in my mind, haunting me with his cryptic meaning.

[There are people close in your life who may not be who they appear to be.]

Nii-san must be referring to Dad. If there was a mutual deal between them, Nii-san wouldn’t have betrayed him. And the shock on Mom’s face when he said it to her… It was as if he had been hit with a revelation he couldn’t comprehend.

I’ve been watching my dad closely ever since that day, trying to decipher the truth behind Nii-san’s warning.

I’ve noticed Dad has been more cautious lately, as if he’s aware of being watched. I even searched his room, hoping to find something that might reveal his secret, but came up empty-handed.

He’s too smart to leave any incriminating evidence lying around.

It’s possible he’s carrying whatever it is with him, like his phone or something else. But snooping through his phone isn’t easy. I don’t know his password, and even if I did, I wouldn’t know where to look.

Checking his emails seems like the most plausible option, but with how careful he is, I wouldn’t be surprised if anything suspicious has been deleted.

My other plan was to search Nii-san’s room, but it’s always locked. He usually does this when he goes out, but I never paid much attention to it since it’s not my room.

Now I realize there’s a reason for it. There must be something that can help me further.

My last resort is to confront Nii-san directly. I’m running out of options, but I wonder if he’ll actually tell me anything. And I’m not even sure if he knows that I was the one who turned him in.

“Haa~”

I sighed and flopped onto my bed, feeling the weight of the situation pressing down on me. There seemed to be no other option but to confront Nii-san directly.

Glancing at the clock, I noted that it was mid-afternoon – still enough time to make arrangements. With a sense of determination, I reached for my phone and dialed the number for the jail where Nii-san was being held.

As the phone rang, my heart raced with anticipation. Would Nii-san tell me what happened between him and Dad?

“Hello, this is the XX juvenile jail. How can I help you?”

“Hello, I’d like to schedule a visitation appointment.”

“Of course, can I have the name of the inmate you wish to visit?”

“Yuto Ken.”

“Alright and what is your name?”

“Nao Ken.”

“When would you like to schedule the visit?”

“As soon as possible, please.”

“Understood. We have availability in about an hour. Can you make it?”

“Yes, that works for me. Thank you.”

“There are rules when visiting an inmate.”

“Rules?”

“Yes, please make sure to bring a valid ID, dress appropriately, and refrain from bringing any prohibited items into the facility. If you want more information you can check it more on the website.”

“I see. Thank you.”

It seemed like there were always rules to follow, even in situations as simple as visiting someone in jail.

I hung up the call and went to the website to read the rules.

As time passed by it was time for me to visit Nii-san.

I closed my laptop, put on my jacket and went downstairs.

“Nao, are you going somewhere?”

As I reached for the doorknob, my father’s voice stopped me. I couldn’t let him know that I was going to visit Nii-san. I needed to come up with a convincing excuse to leave without arousing suspicion.

“Yes, my classmates invited me to go out. I usually turn them down, but I felt bad rejecting them every time, so I agreed this time.”

“Ah okay. Be safe when you come back home.”

“Yes.”

With a quick nod, I headed for the door, eager to make my escape. Once outside, I made my way to the train station, my mind preoccupied with thoughts of what awaited me at the jail.

One hour passed before I found myself standing before the imposing building, heavily secured to prevent any potential escape attempts by inmates. I had to wait for someone to open the doors for me, a reminder of the strict security measures in place.

Once inside, I approached the receptionist desk.

“Hello, how can I help you?”

“Hi, I have an appointment to visit my brother.”

“What is your name?”

“Nao Ken.”

“Ah, yes, Nao Ken. Your appointment is confirmed. Have you read the rules?”

“Yes, I have.”

“Good. You can proceed through that door and leave your belongings in the locker. Once you’re done, you can retrieve them.”

“Thank you.”

I said, heading towards the door to stow away my belongings. After putting my belongings in the locker, I passed through a metal detector before finally being allowed to proceed to the visitation area.

After a few minutes of waiting, the door opened, revealing a man in handcuffs being escorted inside by a guard.

“Nii-san…”

I murmured as the guard removed his handcuffs and left.

“Could you be any rougher?”

Nii-san quipped at the departing guard, who only sneered in response before closing the door.

Nii-san turned to look at me.

“Hello, Nao. Long time no see.”