𝙊𝙧𝙥𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙣 𝘿𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙢

𝑶𝒓𝒑𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒏 𝑫𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒎 (10)

Gulp.
I swallowed dry as Nana's Oji-chan, Kurosawa-san eyed the bowl of Katsudon I placed before him warily.

Seriously, just eat it already!

"Brat, are you sure you made this?" Narrowing his eyes at me, Kurosawa-san asked, "Because it sure looks well-made. Too good for the likes of you."

These prickly words and that judging tone. You were the same as before,huh.

"Ah~ Ojii-chan! Will you taste it already?! Since when have you been making your favourite Katsudon wait?" Nana said tiredly, resting her chin on her palm while sitting beside her Oji-chan.

That was what I'd like to say!

But swallowing my true thoughts, I just politely replied, "Yes, please have a bite."

Kurosawa-san raised his brow then finally tore his eyes off me.

"Hmph."

He took his chopsticks, picked up some food all the while giving it a scrutinizing glance and put it inside his mouth.

Hah~ Thank Heavens!

I watched him as he chewed the food closing his eyes with a frown.

Flinch. He suddenly halted. Opening his eyes wide, he stared at the bowl of Katsudon for a moment then at me.

He again picked up some food but this time without hesitation and with a speed as if it was running away. He took bite after bite not wasting so much as a second that I thought he would choke any moment now.

I thought of stopping him but from the looks of it, I didn't think he'd listen so I just kept quiet.

Moments later after swallowing the last bite, he put his chopsticks down. He yanked his head up and stared at me in disbelief.

I thought his eyes were turning red. Or was I wrong?

"T-this.." He choked up. "It's almost like the one that....."

"Nana used to make, right?" I finished.

He nodded sniffling. "How on earth did you?" His voice broke down.

I paused.

I stared at him thinking of the countless excuses I had prepared before coming here but in the end, not a single one came out of my mouth.

Sigh*
I really didn't know what was the right thing to say to an old man who lost his only kin because of me.

"I won't lie. But even if I tell you the truth, I'm not sure if you'd believe my words or understand them.... All I can say is that I'm fulfilling your grandaughter's wishes. And....."

I stood up and went beside him so he could properly see me. I bowed as low as I could, my forehead touching the floor.

"Brat!"
"Kou-chan...."

I opened my mouth with the hope of saying the words that had long been due.

"Kurosawa-san, I know it's shameless to ask for your forgiveness when my offense is unforgivable. And you're right to hate me, despise me because I'm to blame, everything is my fault. But I...." My voice cracked. Tears started welling up in my eyes.
"I don't know what I can say except that I'm sorry. Sorry that I couldn't save Nana. Sorry that she died right before me. Sorry that I took her away from you. Sorry that....."