Beyond the Sound | Yuzuru Hanyu

87.

As amazing as being in their family bubble was, they were yet to break the news to Maya's mother.

It didn't matter just how carefully they planned to tell the woman, the nerves would always be present in something like this.

Chiara was bringing Giulia over to Sendai and it was no wonder that Maya's best friend kept texting her about her mother asking a lot of questions.

Sure enough, Sendai was the last place Giulia assumed her daughter to be, why would Chiara bring her all the way there?

Still, after not hearing about your daughter for a long time, it's only natural to be willing to do just about anything to have some news.

Obviously, explaining why they had just parked in front of Yuzuru's condo was another thing entirely.

Chiara just tried to tell the older woman to be patient, and that she would explain everything eventually. Now, however, she was texting Maya that they were there.

When her friend gave her the okay, Chiara finally asked Giulia to go with her.

The confused woman didn't complain any further and just followed the Italian girl wordlessly.

Ringing the doorbell, they didn't have to wait too long until the door was opening and revealing Maya on the other side.

"Maya!"

"Hi, Mom."

Giulia launched herself at her daughter and hugged her tighter than ever, tears already leaving her eyes.

"You...you're here."

"I am"

"I...I didn't know if you were ok. I was so worried for all this time."

"I know."

"I'm sorry, Giulia, but I want to hug my best friend too." Chiara interrupted.

Maya cleaned the tears from her mother's eyes before hugging Maya for the first time in a long time as well.

"You look good, Maya."

"So do you, Chiara."

"And even a bit tanned. Isn't Canada cold?"

"It isn't that bad. I liked it."

"Canada?" Giulia interrupted "Is that where you were?"

"Yes."

"And you're living at Yuzuru's condo now?"

"We haven't discussed the future but for now, yes."

"You're together? Is that why you came back?"

"Mom... I know you have a lot of questions, but I also have a lot to explain as well. There's a big chance you will be mad at me when you know all of it, but I always did what I thought to be best."

"Will you disappear again?"

"I don't plan to. And yes, Me and Yuzu are back together"

"Marrying?"

"Huh... we haven't talked about that part just yet. There's a lot going on."

"Like what?"

"It's probably best if you come in and have a seat."

Giulia looked at her with a serious expression.

If Maya wanted her to be seated, whatever she was about to tell her was more serious than expected. It was hard to know what to anticipate after her daughter had been away for so long.

Chiara stayed and sat down as well, waiting to hear part of a story that she didn't know fully.

"So... Normally I would start from the beginning, but I feel like there's something I want to get completely out of the way first."

"What is so worrying that you have to speak so carefully to me? Are you hurt? Sick?"

"No, no... It's not a bad thing. At least I don't see it that way."

"Okay... Then there shouldn't be a problem telling me."

"Well, in short... I have a daughter."

The whole room was in complete silence for what seemed like a lifetime, the information clearly being processed in Giulia's brain."

"A...a daughter?"

"Yes. Her name is Kaiya."

"Did you meet someone? Is that why you left back then? But it doesn't make sense if you're with Yuzu now... Well, unless he doesn't mind... But even..."

"Mom!"

"I'm just saying..."

"Mom!

"Maya, these days all of this is completely nor..."

"Kaiya is Yuzuru's daughter!" Maya muttered, knowing just how many options were running through her mother's head already. It was easier to make them all disappear at once.

"Yuzuru's?" she asked, looking shocked.

"Yes."

"How old is she?"

"5."

"You... You left when you were pregnant."

"I did."

Only then did Maya start explaining everything. She had been telling the story so much recently that she felt like a broken record. Thankfully, her mother was the last one to tell.

By the end of it, the reaction was slightly unexpected. 

Her mother just started crying.

"Why didn't you tell me anything? I could have helped you!"

"I couldn't risk it, mom. I only told Chiara because I was panicking with the pregnancy."

Her mother nodded, strangely calmer than she expected.

"I know you expected me to make a big fuss out of this, but just knowing that you're alive... Oh, Maya, I had so many bad thoughts. Having you here is the most important thing."

The daughter was the one crying now. Maya stood and hugged her mom tight once again.

"I missed you, mom."

"I missed you too, my dear." Giulia told her with a smile. "Now, when can I meet my granddaughter?"

"She's here... with Yuzu. Let me just tell them to come here."

Giulia brightened up as her daughter stood and knocked on Yuzuru's bedroom door and told them to come.

Just a few moments later, Kaiya was walking out of the room hand in hand with her mother.

"Kaiya, I want you to meet your grandmother, Giulia, my mom."

They bonded easily, maybe even better than Kaiya and Yumi. It was incredible to see their interaction, just like the first time she had seen the girl with Yuzu. Maybe it had something to do with the connection that Maya felt with the two people that made it seem more intense when it was with them.

Yuzuru was eventually by her side, leaving the room sneakily and kissing her cheek gently as he watched Kaiya with Giulia as well.

"See... you can relax now, my love. They already know."

"There's still too much to do before I can relax."

She didn't need to say what.

"We are all together now. it will be alright."

"You really think so?"

"I promise it will."