Parted Entanglement { ⑤ }

Chapter 8

A few days passed. Haku and Haruka were talking about things that had happened at school when they heard Chuuya unlocking the main entrance, so they went to welcome him. ''Welcome home, Pa--'' Haku paused. ''Dad ?!'' He was shocked to see the brunet standing behind Chuuya. ''Daddy !!'' Haruka exclaimed and ran to hug him tight, Haku too. ''We missed you !'' They were overjoyed. ''Um-- ,'' Dazai didn't know what to say. ''Haku, Haruka, I need you to stay calm and listen to me ,'' They turned and looked up at Chuuya. ''Let's head in first ,''

*

''... You don't remember us ?'' Dazai could see the disappointment in their eyes. Chuuya had told them about him losing all his memories, and Haku looked like he was going to cry. Dazai slowly reached out to pat his head, then Haku abruptly stood up and went into the bedroom. Both Dazai and Chuuya thought he went crying in his bed, but instead, Haku walked out with his phone and earbuds in his hands. ''You bought these for me ,'' He plugged the earbuds into the phone. ''This is your favourite song, it's mine too ,'' Dazai listened to the music with one side of the earbuds as Haruka went into the room too.

''Daddy won this for me ,'' She showed him the sky blue bunny plushie. Then she went in again and took out some books. ''You read stories for me ,'' She looked at him with her hazel eyes as beautiful as his. ''You really don't remember ?'' Dazai hesitated, then he shook his head. Haruka turned to Chuuya. ''Then let's go to the theme park again !'' She didn't look sad, those shining eyes were filled with pure hope that only children would have. Despite being on the edge of crying, Haku seemed to chin up too, he nodded at Haruka's suggestion. ''Yeah, maybe he'll remember something if we go to places we've gone to together !'' Chuuya was surprised at their optimism, but he nodded in agreement.

''Take a bath ,'' He smiled at Dazai. As told, Dazai went into the bathroom and started taking off the bandages. As soon as he saw what's under them, he couldn't help but feel shocked by the sight of his own body.

So many scars... Were they all from when I got injured before the coma ?

Then he frowned.

But... something tells me that they're from a long time ago. Then why are the bandages necessary ?

He decided not to dwell in those thoughts and went on on his bath.

''Chuuya ,'' He opened the door, then Chuuya immediately rushed into the bathroom and closed the door behind him. ''I forgot to tell you, you always wrap yourself in ban--'' It was the first time Chuuya saw Dazai's scars up close, it was only when he heard Dazai's voice calling his name that he got snapped out of his thoughts. ''Chuuya, how did I get these scars ?'' Chuuya continued staring at Dazai's wrist, where only some scars were visible, the others hidden under his long sleeve hoody. ''... I dunno, you've never told me about it ,''

*

Chuuya was fast asleep, but Dazai was still awake. He stared at the ceiling above him. He wanted to think of something, but at the same time he didn't know what to think about. Then he felt something around his waist. It was Chuuya, he unintentionally hugged him in his sleep, but Dazai didn't feel uneasy, he felt warm instead, he felt like it's the right thing. A newborn baby has never met their parents, but they tend to know who the closest people to them were and trust them entirely, that was how Dazai felt. Even without his memory, he could feel the bond between them, how close they were, he just couldn't remember how.

He raised his hand above him and stared at the bandages, but it was like he was staring at what's underneath them.

What happened to me ?

Then he turned to face Chuuya.

A truth that even you don't know...

*