To the Stars And Back

Chapter 4

The rest of the drive was quite, pleasant if Gakushuu was being honest. Karma wasn't bad company really and their first meeting impression of each other washed away after getting to know more about each other. Karma, as it turns out, was on a long trip to visit his father

"I haven't seen him in years... Barely even remember what the guy looks like" he was oddly very open about himself. Something Gakushuu couldn't find himself doing comfortably. How is his new friend so ok with opening up to people he just met?

"Likely because after I drop him off, I'll never see him again" he guessed.

"Me and my sister Kora take after our mom personality wise" he chuckles. "But in the looks department, I guess we'd be the spitting image of dad, Kora being the female version of him and me being the younger"

"Does your mother not resemble either of you? Even if it's something as small as your face shape or eye color?"

"No" Karma said. "She has orange eyes, and black hair. Sometimes people doubt we're her kids because we don't look like her, or at least hold a tiny bit of resemblence to her" he frowned, remembering when he was much younger, some nosy old folks would talk to him and his little sister and ask them if they knew the woman they were with, if they were comfortable with her or some other crap

When he'd explain she is their mother, the old chaps would have a look of doubt.

His mother would just tell them to back off and stay away from her children, before leading him and Kora away. Face flustered and teeth gritted..

"The community we grew up in is crappy, full of nosy, meddlesome assholes and old timers who always poke their nose where they don't belong" Karma said, and Gakushuu could hear the anger in his voice. "Mom was really young when she had me, barely even out of high school according to my grand parents, sometimes I think it's my fault our life is crap, that having me was a mistake they had to put up with-- I mean the fact she got pregnant as a teenager should be enough context for me to piece together that I was a 'happy' accident"

Gakushuu gave Karma a concerned look. Karma sounded upset but, he was still smiling. As if he was just telling a nostalgic childhood story to someone who was close to him. "I could never do the same" he thinks. "But?" He gently urged.

Karma shrugged. "I told you the community my sister and I grew up on was full of meddling old timers. They shamed my mother for getting pregnant as a teenager, and gossiped behind our backs about how 'unlucky' we are to be her kids. A young, single mother raising two hyperactive kids in a crumbling house? They pretty much expected child services to take us away at any given moment"

"Your sister, how old is she?" Gakushuu asked. "She's fourteen now" he revealed. "Wait, umm.. How old were you when you last saw your father? You're just about my age aren't you? And you said your mother raised you by herself" Gakushuu didn't mean to pry but now he's too curious. "How long has it been since you last saw him? If you don't mind my asking"

Karma didn't minded at all. "He would come and go. Would visit us every Holliday, summer, new years, Christmas mostly, because it's my birthday" he reminisced about the days when his father would make an effort to be a part of their dysfunctional  family. Would show up with his arms spread and a big smile and a loud "I'm home!" Before carrying him and his sister.

"Kora was four when she first met him" his smile slowly faded. "And I think she was... Ten?, when we last saw him" he looked out the window, eyes jumping from tree to tree that they passed. "So umm.. it's been about four years, three weeks and seventy nine hours!"

Gakushuu rolled his eyes. "That is not exact"

"Whatever, it's been so long since I last saw my father so who cares about the exact estimation? It's not like that will bring him back to us anyway" Karma crossed his arms and shrugged.

Gakushuu bit his lip, worried he upsetted the red head. "S-sorry"

"It's no big deal, why do you look so scared?" Karma chuckled.

Bzz! Bzz!

His phone vibrated in his pocket. He carefully picked up his sleeping chicken and settled her in the back seat. Before reaching for his pocket and answering "Kora! Hey" he greeted. Gakushuu perked up and turned his head to Karma's direction.

"Hey, eyes on the road" Karma snapped his fingers and pointed a head. Gakushuu returned his attention to the wheel, but his ears were attentively listening to Karma's conversation. "I mean it's not like I wouldn't be able to hear... We're sitting next to each other after all"

[With Kora Akabane]

"Where are you? Have you reached dad yet?" She asked, pacing in her room.

"Hm? No not yet! I still have a couple more miles to go"

"Have you eaten yet?" She sat on her bed. "You know you shouldn't miss a meal! And don't forget your medication, and-"

"Alright alright! Geez, you're my sister not mother, Kora"

The younger Akabane frowned. "And speaking of mom, she was really upset that you left"

She heard her brother sigh in the other line. "Tell her I'll be fine" he insisted. She shook her head and fell back in bed. "Not like she'd still calm down whether I tell her you'll be fine or not, you know how she gets when it involves that, she hates him"

She and him talked a bit more, and Karma told her he was hitching a free ride with someone he met on the road. A boy his age named Gakushuu Asano. "Still be careful, the psychos just keep getting younger-"

"He's not a psycho Kora, I can smell his niceness-"

"-smell, wait what? Karma!"

"Love you bye!" He hung up.

Kora groaned.

[With Karma and Gakushuu]

"You're a weirdo" Gakushuu said. Karma simply laughed heartily. "I've been told, so anyway, it's nearly lunch" he showed Gakushuu his Rolex. "Maybe, we can eat now? I'm really hungry"

Gakushuu pointed at the back seat. "There should be some snacks and drinks there, help yourself"

Karma rummaged in the plastic bags and paper bags. When he pulled out all the junk food and instant ramen cups however, he made a face. "Uhhh, Gakushuu? Is there anything else... you know, healthier?"

Gakushuu chuckled. "Check the nutrition facts in the back then"

"No, I'm serious I need real food"

"That is real food"

"I can't eat this" Karma argued.

"Don't be picky" Gakushuu scoffed

"Sorry but my doctor said I'm not allowed to eat these" Karma tossed the packet of chips back in the pile of unhealthy junk food and cola bottles. "Your doctor's a kill joy" Gakushuu muttered. "Are you sick? What is it then, a fever? Cold? Sore throat?" He jokingly listed.

Karma chuckled.

"Cancer"