III - SWORD OF THE BRAVE // Doraemon Fanfic

7 - NOWHERE NEAR OKAY

Kiyoshi vigilantly sneaked into the house through the living room window but when he turned, he found Doraemon already standing before him, with his arms folded.

"Do you wanna tell me where you've been this whole time, Kiyoshi?"

"Relax Doraemon. It wasn't anything serious," Kiyoshi replied casually.

Doraemon demanded angrily, "Come on. You've been out the entire night. I did not even notice when you plugged yourself out of the dream tool last night. I went to sleep myself. I never imagined you could be this irresponsible, Kiyo! I was worried sick."

Kiyoshi gave a guilty expression and said nothing in response.

"All your friends were having a good time together. What could be so important that you ditched them all midway? Weren't you having fun? Or are simple games and stuff no longer fun for you anymore?"

Kiyoshi still did not say anything.

Doraemon screamed out in frustration, "Don't just stay quiet. I need a goddamn answer. I deserve an answer, young man."

That was when the doorbell rang. Both Doraemon and Kiyoshi peered over at the direction of the main door. Wondering who it could be, they shared a short glance.

Kiyoshi ran over to the door and opened it to find a big surprise waiting outside.

"Son~" said the middle aged man, dressed in an elegant black suit and tie, standing opposite the puzzled boy.

"Dad?" Kiyoshi murmured, his heart starting to race from the suddenness of that predicament. It was so unexpected.

"It's been so long. Years long." The man flashed Kiyoshi a soft smile.

Meanwhile, Doraemon had walked out of the room they were initially in and into the hallway to the entrance lobby. Seeing Kiyoshi's Dad there, he stopped short.

What the hell is this shithead doing here? was all that Doraemon could think of.

"How have you been, son?"

At that, Kiyoshi broke out of his frozen trance on unexpected coming across his father after more than seven years.

He was brutally reminded of their past and his expression changed into a cold one. "Why do you care, huh?"

"Son... I'm sorry. I know I did wrong. And I came here to apologise for what I did."

"Oh- Cut the bullcrap, already, Dad. I know you don't care and you never did. So don't pretend like you do, okay?"

"Look Kiyoshi. I know I haven't been there for you all these years--"

Kiyoshi interrupted him, saying, "Yeah, right! Where have you been all this time? You never showed up, even after you knew I was back here. You left. So why return now? Why bother, after so long?"

"Kiyoshi, don't forget that you are my son. I love you," The man took a step forward.

Kiyoshi immediately stepped back, pulling away from him at which the other stopped. He snapped, "Don't fucking lie to me. Not after what happened."

With a malicious and enraged tone, he continued, "YOU SOLD ME OUT. YOU SOLD ME OUT TO THAT ASSHOLE CASH JUST SO HE WOULD BUY YOUR DEALERSHIP AND YOUR BUSINESS COULD FLY. You don't love me. You care more about your damn money than your own son. I had to work as that sadistic lunatic's slave for years. And I was just a kid back then."

The man fell silent, his head stooping low.

"As a freakin' father, you should be ashamed of yourself, you bastard... for doing that to your own son."
Kiyoshi added, "You are lucky I haven't reported you and thrown you behind bars. 'Cause I don't want to be that child who imprisoned his own father."