Be My Babe | Initial D

Chapter 18

A crisp morning in Tochigi greeted me as I decided to embark on a journey to the past. Clutching Keisuke's yellow hoodie, a token of a night that lingered in my thoughts, I set out to visit my dad. The Suzuki Carry, a reliable companion, hummed beneath me as the familiar roads led me toward the memories I had left behind.

The winding path to my childhood home stirred a mix of emotions. Nostalgia clung to the air, and every curve of the road carried echoes of laughter and stories shared with my family. As I approached the house, a wave of anticipation and uncertainty washed over me.

Parking the Suzuki Carry by the curb, I took a moment to gather my thoughts.

Ascending the steps to the front door, the familiar creak echoed through the silence. The house, once a bustling hub of activity, now stood in quiet repose. Memories adorned the walls, each photograph and trinket telling a story of a family that had weathered its share of storms.

As I stood on the doorstep, I hesitated for a moment. The decision to revisit my past felt like opening a long-sealed book. With a deep breath, I knocked on the door, the sound resonating through the hallways that held years of shared moments.

The door creaked open, revealing a figure that felt both familiar and distant. My dad, a man of few words but a repository of wisdom, looked at me with a mix of surprise and curiosity. "I was dropping by... I wanted to come see you," I spoke quietly as he hugged me softly. "Just in time. Your uncle Yashi's coming around as well," he chuckled, walking into the house. I took a seat in the living room. There were fewer bottles, but some were still hidden behind the couch. The ashtray was overfilled with cigarette butts.

My dad disappeared into the kitchen, leaving me alone in the living room with the familiar surroundings that held both joyous and melancholic memories. The scent of nostalgia hung in the air as he returned, holding a steaming cup of tea. He handed it to me with a small smile, and I nodded in gratitude.

Taking a sip, the warmth of the tea spread through me, comforting and grounding. My dad settled into a nearby chair, his gaze fixed on me as if trying to decipher the unspoken words hidden behind my eyes.

He spoke gently, breaking the silence that lingered in the room. "So, what brings you here today, y/n?"

I took a moment to collect my thoughts, the weight of the night's revelations still fresh in my mind. "I needed to return something to a friend," I said, as I thought of the hoodie. "But I also wanted to see you. It's been a while."

He nodded, understanding etched in his expression. "Life in Tochigi treating you well?"

I sighed, not entirely sure how to encapsulate the whirlwind of emotions that had become my life. "It's different. Busy. Complicated."

He leaned back, sipping his own tea, a quiet acknowledgment of the complexities life could throw at us. The air between us held an unspoken understanding—a bond that stretched beyond words.

My dad's question about school brought a mixture of emotions. I sighed, setting the tea cup down on the small coffee table. "School's... well, it's going. It's just different from what I expected."

He arched an eyebrow, a knowing look in his eyes. "Different how?"

I hesitated, choosing my words carefully. "I thought I knew what I wanted, but lately, it feels like I'm on a path that isn't really mine."