Tale of the shooting star

Chapter 3

The police department conduct a meeting about the incident especially about knowing the suspect's identity of who he was and where he came from. They puzzled about the suspect, they want to unlock the suspect's details. In the wake of Saaya, her family and friends mourn for her, Saaya's mother remember her last moment when she prepare to leave the house, "I wish you well on your travel to Tokyo Saaya" she said, "All of this is for you mom" Saaya replied. Her mother release a river of tears from her eyes as she remember those words. Hiroshi, watching from the outside, he said to himself, "I miss you so much my love" he walk away, moving on as the distance and the darkness covered him. The high school campus where Hiroshi attending, make a tribute for the girl, they mourn for her together with a cry for justice. Hiroshi join the protest with the students. Group of people from different place do the same, "Justice for Saaya Kuruzaki" they cry out, together with her picture where she's smiling. Some TV station release a tribute for the girl, including some clips taken from different TV shows and movies where she was involve playing her assign role for the show, most of all, they show some music videos and live performance in a concert where she with the three girls singing and dancing with joy making the people in front of them shout and clap their hands. Hiroshi, off from school, crossing the street with the other people around in harmony with the vehicles who rule the roads. After he crossed the street, he took path in the sidewalk. He heard anybody is talking about the death of an Idol Saaya Kuruzaki. He stopped and turn his head to see the youth like him talking about it. Hiroshi bow down his head and proceed. He remembers the time when Saaya told him that their relationship need to be kept as secret, "But why?" Hiroshi asked, Saaya sigh and bow her head down with her hair hang on each side, "Because we are not allowed to date" Saaya said. Hiroshi asked the same question and want to know the reason why, Saaya explain everything and Hiroshi can't believe that he's dating an idol. Back to the present, Hiroshi took another path, a path that will make him pass through Saaya's house where she was laid. Saaya's mother recognizes him as the same person who pass through their home regularly since Saaya died. She follow him with gaze, and make a call and talk with someone on her phone, "Yes, I notice him since last day, I see those young man strange" She said.

Hiroshi got home, "Tadaima" he said, he remove his shoes and put it on the shelf standing before the door outside and he go inside. Time has passed, his father check him on his room where he found him already asleep.

In the next day, Hiroshi's father, cooking and selling takoyaki, people come and go, sometimes he sold a lot, sometimes just enough for them and Hiroshi to sustain their needs. One high school girl come to buy and he prepare to cook for her. As he look at her, she remembered a memory of the past, she remembers Saaya because they have similarity and remember the time where she buy and eat his Takoyaki and she become a regular customer of him. "You know? you remind me of someone" Hiroshi's father said, "Really? who?" the girl asked, "My son's girlfriend, she loves my takoyaki so much where she become my regular costumer" He said. The girl listen to his story and said, "I was so sorry for her, I hope your son will be relieved from the pain" the girl replied. The takoyaki is ready and he serve it, "Here's your takoyaki" he gave it to her, "Arigato guzaimasu" she said.

Saaya's mother is doing a house hold chores, requiem is painted on her face, while she's cleaning the house. She look at the painting hanged on the wall, a painting of a shooting star in the night sky. It was perfectly painted, and was so realistic to look at, like it's a shooting star from the night sky itself. a word was written below the picture of the shooting star, "Make a wish" written in Hiragana. She remember the time when Saaya is sitting while doing painting, as the bright light shone upon her make her glow like divine being, a vision she saw and a memory of the past that flashes through her mind because of the painting on the wall. She close her eyes releasing a flow of tears and can't stop herself from weeping while she's holding the cleaning tools she's using. After she do the household chore, she went outside, she looked at the bicycle placed at the corner. She then see a sight on her mind seeing Saaya riding the bike, living the house until she went far away. Hiroshi, posted a tweet on tweeter about his pain and longing for his dead lover, the post is so long like it was a news paper text. Many teens from the country in the southern part read the post, it captured their hearts and sympathy, also some of the teens can relate to it so they reposted it. Some take a screenshot of the post then share it on facebook, and a lot more young people share the posted screenshot. The post reach the people around Hiroshi's location, and they recognize the author of the post. In the morning, as Hiroshi arrived, other student's eyes are on him, even when he take on his seat at his table. The teacher is not yet around, and suddenly a group of his classmates approach him and talk about the post. Hiroshi was surprised, "What are you talking about?"

"Did you know that your post went viral?"

Hiroshi shivers on his seat, and he gulped, "What?"

"And what are you talking about?  Saaya? your girlfriend?" one of the group said.

Hiroshi look left and right, noticing that the whole class' eyes is on him. The group ridicule him, that creates a tension and makes him explode like a bomb. He charged towards the one talking. The teacher arrived and witness the brawl inside the classroom so they’re all been called together for questioning. The story about Hiroshi and Saaya's rumored connection when she's alive spread like a wild fire even in online world. Saaya's mother recognizes Hiroshi as she saw his picture online as the man who often pass and take a look at their house. Hiroshi, almost want to wear a mask out of humiliation, because many of the people around him ridicule him and doubt about the story of his relationship with Saaya. In the school, A girl approach him from behind, the girl displaying a sense of triumph and authority like a royal heir. Hiroshi was surprised, "You're... Aiko.. right?" he said.

Aiko interrogated him, all about the story of him and Saaya. "If all of those things are true, how come we her close friends don't know about it all?" Like a police officer questioning him, Aiko show her personality that makes Hiroshi confuse on what he will say, "Not even selfies of the two of you?"

Hiroshi look left and right to see if other students have their eyes on them. as he confirms everything is clear, he resume to Aiko, "I think this is not the right place to talk.." Hiroshi ask Aiko to go out, so that they can talk privately.

"Fine then"

Hiroshi take Aiko to the place where they are used to go with Saaya, and he tell her every moment when they go here.

"I remember, there's a time she go on her own without us.." Aiko said, "But still, I'm not yet convinced unless you provide me a strong proof of that claim"

Aiko and Hiroshi looked at each other,  "Now what?" Hiroshi lower his head and can't speak for a moment,

"Why can't you prove me that you're telling the truth?" Aiko keep her eyes on helpless Hiroshi, "Ok then, I need to go," Aiko take her bag and left Hiroshi behind.

Tears flow from Hiroshi's eyes, after all the things that happened to him, from all the humiliation he experience because of the uncovered truth that was doubted by the rest, and from the harsh interrogation that makes him like the most wanted criminal in the whole world. Another school days has come, the teacher is discussing infront of her students, one empty seat caught her attention and she gaze on it, "I notice Hiroshi is not attending the class for three days.." the teacher said. Hiroshi never attended school anymore, and the whole class notice it. Since then, Hiroshi never been found. In Hiroshi's room, his father found a letter written by him,

 
"Father, I want to go now, I can't take it anymore, don't worry father, I'll be happy where ever I'll go, I want to thank you for everything, and I love you so much father."

 Hiroshi's father burst in tears after reading his letter.