Collision of Heaven and Hell ✅

Chapter Ten

September 1st, 2029

"Mai? Are you okay?"

I looked up at Mama and forced a smile. "Yes, I'm okay Mama."

"You haven't touched your dinner, Mai," Mama pointed out.

I looked down and realized that I was indeed just poking my food with my chopsticks and not eating. I set down my chopsticks and looked at her. "Mama, can't we move back in with Papa?"

"I told you Mai—no," Mama said firmly. "Not until he leaves the Awaosamu-gumi. I'm not going to subject you to that man ever again, Mai."

I tried to smile but it was difficult to do so. "You're doing so much to look out for me, Mama."

"I could do more. Neither your papa or I want you to be involved with the Yakuza. This is part of why we discouraged you from talking or associating with Yamagishi-kun."

"Chikafusa isn't part of any gangs either," I pointed out. Mama flinched when I referred to Chikafusa with such familiarity. "He's not, Mama," I insisted.

"His father is Kokushibyō, Mai," Mama said sharply. "He's a very dangerous man! More so now that he's not attached to a specific group anymore!"

"But Chikafusa isn't his dad, Mama!" I shot back. I jumped to my feet, my breathing unsteady. "I...I'm tired," I said breathlessly. "I want to go to bed."

"Okay," Mama said in a quiet tone. I could tell that she wanted to say more but didn't.

The new apartment didn't feel like home. It felt like a placeholder place. My new room was even smaller than my old room; my bed stretched from one wall to another. I knew though that Mama had tried to reach out to her parents—my maternal grandparents—for help separating from Papa. But my grandparents had legally disowned Mama when she married Papa, and so they had refused to help her to leave him. Mama could not even legally carry her maiden name. It was just us.

Just us...

Tears stung my eyes and I covered my mouth with my hand. My life was falling apart and I couldn't help but feel like everything was my fault. Oh...why did Ryotaro Awaosamu have to die? I knew that he wasn't a saint, but he was practically a saint compared to his son! How did a wonderful and level-headed man like Ryotaro created a power-hungry sociopath like Nobuto?!

I sat down on my bed, but before I could lay down my phone began to buzz where it was charging on my desk. I hurried over to the phone and I gasped with relief when I saw Chikafusa's name. He wanted to do a video call. I quickly answered it. "Chikafusa?"

"Mai?" Chikafusa looked like he was lounging on a couch and Tako was nestled into his shoulder. "Are you all right?"

"O-Of course I am. Why wouldn't I be?"

"You look like you've been crying."

I sucked in a sharp breath and looked away for a long moment. The pain crawled up my body quickly; I thought I would scream. Then I looked at him again. "Can I meet you? Now? I really want to see you, Chikafusa."

Chikafusa looked away, and I saw that he was conflicted. "I-I mean," I tried to backpedal. "We can arrange—"

"I'll bring Tako," Chikafusa said finally, looking back at me. "Where do you want to meet? Our apartments are probably not a good idea."

I nodded in agreement. "There...There's a park near to where I live now. We could meet there."

"Tell me where and I'll be there."