Existence Precedes Essence

Chapter 13: Out Loud

Every word has consequences, every silence too.
-Sarte

Mochi House

"They have chicken?", Hakkai looked at the food on the table. "The owner allowed us to bring food", Chifuyu answered. The tall lad also grew his hair which just showed his admiration for Mitsuya. "Also, you're great at gathering people", Hakkai added. "It's not me who gathered them. As soon as Takemichi's girl knew about it, she was the one who first reached out. His cousin was supportive and even encouraged me more. Those underclassmen of hers, I don't know. They just popped", the blonde sighed at the last part. "How did you make Mikey join this?", the tall lad was curious. "Mikey knew I was preparing. Emma told me that he also helped make paper chains. For some reason, Mikey knew that Azumi helped Baji a couple of times in school way back then. He said that if he is Baji and my friend, then Azumi is also his friend", the blonde looked at the birthday girl playing cards with Peh-yan, Emma, and some middle schoolers. They kept losing. "By the way, where is Taka-chan?!", Hakkai panicked when he wasn't able to see him around. "Did that beautiful woman take him away?!!!", he shook Chifuyu. "Calm down. They just went out to buy some drinks", the vice-captain of the first division slapped his back.

Car

"Why did you ask me to come with you?", Mitsuya looked at the road while strapped in the seatbelt. "You like Azumi?", Fumi asked straightforwardly. The lilac head was baffled but he kept his cool and gave a smile. "You easily give yourself away. But then, that girl might not understand it", the ash greyhead woman chuckled. "There's a photobook in the car drawer", Fumi asked for the lad to get it. Mitsuya did and found a photobook. He opened it and saw a strikingly handsome man on the first page with a good posture and captivating onyx eyes. "You're flexing your husband?", the lilac head tilted his head. Fumi laughed and it turned into a softened expression after some time. "He's someone else's", she answered. "This is Azumi's father, right? Then, did he commit some adultery?", Mitsuya didn't sugarcoat his words. He grew up in a messed-up household and knew how families aren't always perfect. "You're right with the first one. For the second, I don't know where you get the idea. If you're thinking that I am Azumi's mom, you're wrong", Fumi revealed.

Mitsuya found it more proper to let the woman speak. "I loved Kenzo, Azumi's father but he didn't love me back. Can you believe that? We were the fan's favorite and were shipped by a lot of our friends and family. His father even went to the extent of having us engage", Fumi pouted. "It wasn't adultery. He never agreed in the first place but because I fell for him so hard, I asked my parents to arrange marriage for the two of us. How tacky of me, right?", the woman parked the car in front of the convenience store. "You can continue. I saw the bottles of soda and it will suffice. They can wait", Mitsuya respected the woman opening up to him. "You're really a good kid", Fumi patted his head. "Kenzo was in love with Aimi, Azumi's mother. She wasn't what his parents and siblings wanted. As the next head of the house, he is to marry someone from a reputable family. Aimi is from a humble home and she was still a university student back then", the ash grey head leaned on the car seat trying to relax. "Kenzo thought I only agreed to the arranged marriage because I was following my parents' wish. I told him that was the case and agreed to break off the engagement. I never told him that I really loved him. He got married without the blessing of his family and was forced out of the house. Kenzo has a promising future for Kendo but he abandoned it and worked as a physical education teacher in high school. If only I was younger and dumber back then, I could have shouted how much I loved him without getting any consequences", the woman opened the door of the car signaling Mitsuya that they were entering the convenience store.

Convenient Store

"Fumi-san. Want to have some drinks heading back?", Mitsuya raised a bottle of liquor. "You're underage. I won't allow it", the ash-grey head crossed her arms and lectured about the horrifying effects of being intoxicated. One time, she barged into Kenzo's room and slept on his bed. It was fortunate that he was out doing his kendo practice. "Hanami haven't touched the food. Maybe she could stay in the kitchen to get some time to eat. Everyone is needy of her attention", the lilac head informed. "Azumi doesn't eat in front of people", the woman grabbed some soda and passed it to Mitsuya. But then, the lavender boy remembered how satisfied she looked when eating the mochi two years ago.

" Kenzo had a promising future and the family thought that it was ruined because he married Aimi and had Azumi. When Kenzo dies, the eight-year-old child Azumi is criticized for being the cause of death of the next head. They hated it more that even if Kenzo died, the succession wasn't transferred to any of the head's children. More of it, rumors spread that she isn't Kenzo's daughter but someone else's. Her relatives talked ill about her and Aimi at the dining hall and made food taste like crap. Today, his grandfather has to make a painful decision to have her move out of the main house. ", Fumi clenched her fist. "Other days, I slapped myself thinking that I should have pushed through with the marriage. That way, Azumi wouldn't have to suffer such pain but I felt like an idiot. If that had happened, she wouldn't exist", the woman covered her face with her palm.

"Your love is so pure. Even if she's not yours, you were able to muster the courage to look at her in the eyes and see past the fact that you weren't the one chosen. I respect that, Fumi-san", Mitsuya patted the woman's head. "Don't get cheeky, you brat. I told you. I will not play favorites. I only told you these things so you will have equal footing with Matsuno-kun", Fumi burst into tears.

Mochi House

Azumi saw Fumi's puffed eyes. "What happened?", she asked worriedly. The raven head peeked behind and saw Mitsuya smiling and waving his hand. "She just tripped over her self-esteem", the lad answered. "How cruel of you to make fun of a pretty woman like me?", Fumi marched inside. Hakkai grabbed Mitsuya and was about to cry. "You wouldn't go down that path, right? Taka-chan?", he asked nervously. "I know she's quite a woman but she's too old for you", Hakkai shook Mitsuya. Fumi slapped the back of his head. "Excuse me. I'm just 34", she pouted. "See, Taka-chan! That's half your age!!!", the tall lad panicked more. The group laughed at Hakkai's bewildered state. He is obsessed with his captain and the one he sees as a big brother.

Park

It was the first place where Azumi and Chifuyu met. The lady held on her cheek and gave a short laugh. "What?", Chifuyu pushed her back as she sat at the swing. "Chifuyu, you used to be smaller than me before but you're braver. You were like a chihuahua", the lady gave an association. A small dog that kept on barking. "Heh! Look at how the tables turned. I am now taller than you", he smirked. "Thank you for today", Azumi arched her neck and saw the blonde already looking down at her with a wide smile. "Now, you're older than me. Should I call you Azu-ne", he laughed. "I'm moving out of the house, Chifuyu. I know just enough about cooking but I wanted it to be edible. Sorry for leeching on you, can you stop by and maybe teach me? I know Fumi-san will try her very best but she just has a different taste in food", Azumi laughed remembering how the woman cooked pancakes without baking powder. "That's not called leeching. I'm just doing what a ma-, what a friend is supposed to do", he messed up the lady's hair.

At a distance, Mitsuya and Draken are walking side by side. They're the only ones who didn't come with their bikes since they're still being repaired. "Baji would always refer to her as Chifuyu's girlfriend. He must have misunderstood", the blonde shrugged. Mitsuya just gave a small smile.

Don't hesitate just because Chifuyu is dotting on her. He's still a child and might not understand his feelings or even put a label on it. It's not about being unfair because you have it all figured out. If you like her, you do. There's no enough time in the world to make things complicated.

Chapter end.