Dreams Upon A Silver Pine Branch

Chapter 16: The Memories That Shape Us

As soon as Kenta ended his phone call with Johan, a notification for a group message popped up.

Aikawa: Do you still need me to drive you and your friends to the mall to shop for prom outfit tonight? I'm off work already but am stuck in a traffic jam and probably wouldn't make it on time. Would you guys mind waiting?

Akira: I'm not sure about the mall anymore. Kenta might not be in the mood for shopping judging by how distraught he looked just before he locked himself upstairs. Besides, I haven't been able to get hold of either of the Swenson brothers to confirm whether the plan is still in place. I know Baz wants to go but it won't be fun if it's just the two of us. Perhaps I should leave Ezie a text asking to cancel it.

Aikawa: Is your boyfriend the type to be unreachable every now and then?

Akira: No, this is the first time ever I've had him not responding to me for hours. He's usually super-fast at responding, like lightning fast. Do you think Kenta lied to me about phoning his therapist? Maybe he was talking to Ezie instead?

Aikawa: [skull emoji] Akira, I have bad news. We accidentally sent these messages to the family group instead of to each other...

Akira: Oh dear... Let's delete everything before Kenta sees everything!

Aikawa: I think he saw our conversation already. Hey son, in case you did, just know that you don't have to tell me whatever it was you spoke to Ezekiel about, but maybe tell your cousin. Unless it's something involving Aiden, of course. In that case I'd like you to tell me too. Send us an emoji if you receive this message and then I'll clear the chat history so that your mom, uncle, and aunt don't interrogate you. Please come to the living room, okay? I'll be home soon.

Kenta: [white rose emoji]

I've never been a good liar. I hope Otou-san is serious about not wanting to pry and wasn't only saying that to coax me downstairs. Regardless of whether he was coaxing or not, perhaps I should reassure him and Akira that I'm alright. Am I really, though? the teenage boy thought as he made his way to where his father had told him to meet.

"How is Ezie? Is Aiden giving him some trouble in the boarding school?" Akira asked him once he sat himself on the couch. Her voice was calm but her arms were crossed and she wasn't making eye contact. "The brat isn't expelled for breaking some rules or something, is he?"

"I wasn't talking to Aiden and Ezie. Honest to kami-sama."

"Ah. Then there's only one other possible reason for you to act agitated," the girl uncrossed her arms and sighed. "Did you confess to Johan and his parents overheard? That's indeed disast—"

"Worse."

"His grandparents overheard?!"

"No, no elderlies involved and no confession happened but we—" Kenta's hands dug deeper into his sweatshirt's pocket and formed tight fists. "He was emotionally where I was after the berries incident, just without actually swallowing berries. Just know that if I didn't check my email in time then we would have had to say goodbye to him. The forever kind of goodbye."

"Berries inci—" Akira's eyes widened. "You talked him off the metaphorical ledge all by yourself? Kenta, you could have let me help! Don't pretend to be tough!"

"What could you have done? What do you know about despai—"

"I know more than you think I do!" Akira barked, her eyes shining with indignation. "I've been hiding a lot more than you could ever hope to imagine. You're not the only one struggling to live, have you ever considered that for once?" she was shaking like a puppy left in the cold.