Unforgettable | Yuzuru Hanyu

47. Overwhelming

One can never really explain the feeling that comes with seeing family again.

Kana didn't have many memories but at the same time, the feelings that engulfed her body from the moment she was embraced by her grandmother were undeniable. Nothing felt like it, not even Yuzuru's touch.

Sure enough, she didn't exactly have a flash of memories from that moment onwards but she didn't need memories to feel the love of the people who truly cared about her. It had been like that with her boyfriend and his parents and it seemed even more impactful with this woman that she had no recollection of.

There were not many needed explanations then. She just enjoyed the familiarity of this embrace that until that day, she didn't even remember.

"How have you been?" was the first question that she heard once the warm arms left her body. In a way, it was so weird that the first question that she was asked was this but all at the same time, it merely showed her that they couldn't care less about where she had been, the mere fact that she was meant a whole lot more than anything else.

"I'm... I'm okay."

It was only then, after they had entered the house and settled in the living room, that Yuzuru calmly explained how Kana's memory was completely wiped away for all of these years and that it was only a matter of chance that she was there now. The tears in her grandmother's eyes were making her emotional and it was very hard to control all the overwhelming feelings that seemed to so easily change the way she saw things.

"I need to call your grandfather. He won't believe me."

"It's only natural, none of this situation is normal."

"So you don't remember? Anything?"

This was one of those situations that it seemed impossible to explain without hurting some feelings. She remembered part of her life but nothing concrete about her family. Saying it so openly could hurt some feelings and all she wanted was peace and quiet now.
So she chose to explain it in a hopeful way, one that she wasn't even remotely sure to be close to the truth.

"Not much. When Yuzu came into my life, some little glimpses started appearing in dreams but it's really hard to explain how I even remember something. Most of the time this is something random that I can't control. Yuzu seems to think that exposure to familiar things makes it a bit easier for memories to come but it's still uncertain whether it works or not."

"If you had never crossed paths..."

"I wouldn't have known. I would think that every friend and family member outside of Canada was either dead or ignoring me. I admit that my hopes of finding who I used to be died really quickly. Now, I can only hope that the same way I can remember part of my time with Yuzuru, I can remember other parts of my life."

Her grandmother nodded with a smile.

"No matter what, you're still the same girl I remember. You've grown up beautifully, Kana, but all at the same time, your personality didn't change in the slightest."

Now that was something that she would just have to believe but it certainly made sense. So many years of trying to figure out who she really was meant that a lot of who she probably used to be transpired into her now. Tastes, People, Friendships... none of that seemed to change when she finally had the chance to figure out what she enjoyed the most.

The moment was as emotional as you would expect and it only got worse once her grandfather entered the house and was suddenly faced with the presence of a little girl that he also assumed to be dead.

Kana had to admit that she was really worried at that moment because he looked very close to a heart attack.

"Oh my god" were the only words that she truly understood from all the rambling that left his mouth but she didn't need much more. The man eventually somehow recovered and headed in her direction.
She wasn't completely aware of every single thing that was happening but eventually, as he finally approached her, the man went on his knees in front of her, touching her ankles as if in full disbelief. It seemed like the man himself was trying to make sure that the situation wasn't purely from his imagination and that Kana was real.

"Please stand, there's no reason to be on the ground" Kana found herself saying.

"You're here... our little girl!"

He started crying and soon enough, he wasn't the only one. The clear emotion that went through all of the people present was undeniable. This was a moment that Kana could have never predicted or planned. The feelings surrounding them were just too intense.

Looking at her boyfriend, Kana saw the smile on his face. It was ear to ear, as if he was way too happy with how things turned out to purely pretend like he wasn't affected by all of it.

Her grandpa looked at the man as he stood up and before she knew it, Kana saw him hug Yuzuru with all of his strength.

"Mizaki-san..." Yuzu uttered, unable to say anything else as the man squeezed him.

"You brought her back home. Thank you."

It seemed like the older man didn't need any more explanation. After hugging her boyfriend, he finally moved toward her, still touching her as if she were a porcelain doll that could break at any moment.

"I'm here, I promise."

"I will never let you go."