Saturday Savior

Epilogue pt. 1 (Route 1 - Rehab)

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Yuri asked as she and Natsuki stood outside the rehab center. "I know things have been going okay, but...this doesn't have to be today, you know."

Two months had passed since that fateful night, and Natsuki's father had taken advantage of the extra chance Natsuki had given him. Since the morning after he was taken into custody, he stayed at the rehab center, and to Natsuki's joy, he slowly began to heal. As is the case with most rehabilitation journeys, his was wrought with trials, tribulations, and setbacks, both mentally and physically. However, the rehab center that he was living in never gave up on him. He was far from okay, but he was much, much better than he was before.

And now, Natsuki was on her way to visit him for the first time. The two have talked twice over the phone since her father was admitted to rehab, but Natsuki figured getting to see each other in person would be a lovely Christmas present for them both; hard to believe it was already that time. She even made some cupcakes for him.

"I want it to be today, Yuri," Natsuki nodded. "After all, today's all about family, isn't it?"

"Can't argue with that, I suppose," she chuckled.

The two girls walked inside and signed in as visitors to the front desk. Their wait was short; a nurse was quick to call the girls over and guide them to the right hallway. Room 229 sat at the very end of the hallway, and when everyone reached the door, the nurse turned around and asked, "Are you ready?"

Natsuki nodded again, her eyes filled with tears. After all these years...she could finally have her papa back.

Neither girl knew what to expect when the nurse opened up the door; the room felt more like a one-bedroom apartment. There was a living space with a couch, coffee table, and television; there was a fully equipped kitchen; and there was a side room that seemed to resemble a bedroom.

"Mr. Ozaki?" the nurse called out. "You have visitors." The bedroom door opened, and a tired, disheveled man walked out, rubbing his eyes as though he just woke up.

"Now who on earth could be-?" he mumbled, but he abruptly stopped and teared up when he saw his daughter standing by the nurse. "...N...N-Natsuki...?"

"Merry Christmas, Papa!" Natsuki cried, running towards her father. She wrapped her arms tightly around her father's waist and cried into his chest. After getting over his initial shock, her father crumbled in her embrace, hugged her back, and cried violently. "I missed you," Natsuki sniffed.

"I...I'm so sorry..." the skinny man sobbed. Natsuki pulled back slightly and pressed her forehead against her father's. "I know. I forgive you, Papa."

"How? How could you forgive me? I'm a monster..." he mumbled. Natsuki kissed his nose and said, "Not anymore. You're getting better. You're not that man anymore...promise me you'll never go back to that..."

"...I promise," he nodded. "I've done wrong by you for so long...but I promise I'll never do it again."

The two Ozakis sat in each other's arms while Yuri stood quietly off to the side. She was pleased at the sight in front of her. When she first saw Natsuki's father, she saw a drunken, high, abusive monster, but now...he was just a man. He was a man broken by grief and guilt, and while neither of those excused his horrible actions, he clearly wasn't irredeemable. And now that Yuri was here to see more than a little glimpse of the real him, she could see that he still held so, so much love in his heart for Natsuki, and in the end, she was so glad that he was getting the help that he needed. The healing process was far, far from over...but they were finally on the right track.

"Yuri, right?" the skinny man's voice brought Yuri back from her thoughts, and she looked up to see Natsuki and her father looking at her.

"Y-Yes sir?" she responded.

"Natsuki's been staying with you, yes?" he asked. When Yuri nodded, he replied, "C-Can I ask you something?"

"Oh...y-yes, sir, what is it?" Yuri asked.

"Y...Y-You'll be taking care of her, yes? I certainly can't do it from here and...I know you love her as much as I do."

"Y-You do?" Yuri gulped, remembering his words from before.

"I do," he replied. "A-And, I know what I said that day. It's something I've been thinking about a lot since I was here; I...I may not understand it...but I do understand that you've made her happy and kept her safe. And I know you two love each other dearly. And I know that at the end of the day, that's all that matters. I'll understand it one day...even if it's not fully today."

"I appreciate it, sir," Yuri smiled.

"Please, call me Reo," he replied, holding his hand up politely. When Yuri nodded, he cleared his throat and continued. "All I wanted to ask is that you...keep her safe. Keep making her happy. I just want to know that no matter how this rehab process goes from here, she'll be in good hands. C-Can you do that for me?"

"Of course, Reo," Yuri said. "I always will."

For the next hour and a half, Yuri and Natsuki talked to Reo so he could get to know them. They talked about how they met, their interests and similarities, school and careers, and about the literature club. Yuri was surprised at how smoothly everything went; she was talking to a completely different person than the one she met that fateful Saturday night. Eventually, a nurse poked her head in and told Reo that he had an appointment with one of his doctors to attend to, so it was time for the girls to go.

"I'll come by to visit you more often, Papa," Natsuki assured as she stood in the doorway.

"I look forward to it," Reo nodded. "A-And Natsuki?"

"Yes, Papa?"

"I...I love you."

"...I love you, too, Papa!" She ran to him and gave him one last hug before stepping away to stand with Yuri, who lovingly wrapped an arm around her as they walked out of the building.

"How do you feel?" Yuri asked as they made their way home.

"I'm so happy," Natsuki whimpered, sniffing and wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. "I've never been this happy."

Yuri leaned down and kissed Natsuki's tear-stained cheek. "Merry Christmas, Natsuki."

"Merry Christmas, Yuri."