ᴛʜᴇ ᴏᴡʟ | Tokyo Revengers

🐉 XL: Lies

"Smells good."

"Have you been too busy lately, or have you been ignoring me?"

"Getting used to the office has been exhausting."

The woman was in her free day, looking lifeless. When she took her seat at the counter, she couldn't help but look at her daughter cautiously preparing breakfast.

Everything she did was as if she was looking at her late husband. The way she flipped the omelet, her focused expression, her demeanor, and that genuine smile while arranging the food on the plate, and the taste of the freshly brewed coffee.

"You shouldn't push yourself too hard. You're going to get sick. You need to rest more often."

Even the words of the girl resembled him. With a faint smile, her mom squeezed Y/n's hand when she finally took her place in front of her. "Aren't your father's daughter?"

"Mom, I was meant to ask you for an apology. I was rude and disrespectful. We haven't been together a lot, and we might have a little struggle at first, but I want us to try for the good of our little family."

The woman was surprised by her daughter's maturity but worried by the sudden change in mood. Her face was wincing, fighting to stay calm, looking at her food and playing with her hands.

"I'll be honest with you, mom. Ever since Kei's death... I've started to feel irritated and disappointed in life. Why does everything I love have to be taken away from me?" The young girl's tears fell silently, her fingernails digging into her palms as she spoke. "I didn't tell you because I knew you were busy, and I didn't want to worry you more. I'm aware that the only thing keeping you working in that way is paying for private school. It's my fault you've been so stressed and away from home. I'm so sorry, I made a mistake back then, and I'm afraid I'll do it again if I keep hiding everything from you."

Holding back her tears of guilt and selfishness, the woman stood up to comfort the girl, hugging her and stroking her head. Only she knew the real reason she had stayed away from her all this time, and it was tearing her apart to see her daughter blaming herself.

"Birdie, it's not your fault."

"If I were more like you, I wouldn't have gotten myself in all the last troubles."

"Don't say that. I've made a lot of mistakes too. I left you alone no wonder you weren't glad I was staying. I wish I could do it all over again."

"Is not that I didn't want you to stay was more about the stress about the high school, I guess. I don't want to leave. I want to stay in my home where I spent time with dad and where I want us to create new moments."

Her mother wanted her to stop talking every time she mentioned the man. His memory haunted her, making the remorse revive.

Before she could say anything to make peace with her demons, the girl made her sit back. It was too late to stop her. Emma's words had given her courage. 'She would never understand if you don't talk to her.'

Y/n earned a faked thoughtful expression and a condescending answer when she finished. "You had it tough. Huh, business girl?"

"I know it's a lot to take. Do you understand why I want to stay? My friends and I... We need each other."

"Sure, honey. Speaking of which, aren't you going to the festival tonight?" She suggested the first thing that came to her mind as if she had believed everything and endorsed her need to be with them.

"I thought I was grounded."

"It's okay now, my child. I appreciate you telling me everything." Before letting her climb the stairs, the woman took her in her arms with concern.