Triple Nightmare /Bakudekutodo

Chapter 66: I really do hate him!

"Hi." he said with a dry tone. Yamada stood up and greeted him with the friendlies smile he could bring out of him. As the boy came closer and sat down on the seat across the couch both Aizawa and Yamada were hit with a horrible smell. "I'll go talk to Aiko." Aizawa said and stood up. "Alright." Yamada answered. "How about we let those two talk alone for a bit?" Aizawa asked Aiko. She looked unsure but Aizawa put his hand on her shoulder and they left the room.

"So Haruto. Can I call you that?" "Sure whatever." it was clear he tried his best not to make eye contact. "Did your mom tell you anything about why we want to talk to you?" he shrugged. "Alright then. A couple months ago three students from UA fell into a coma. Did you hear about it on TV?" "I don't watch TV." "Not important anyway. Fact is those boys haven't been able to wake up and while researching how we could help them your name popped up." Yamada explained. "I didn't do it. I was here." Haruto said quickly. "Don't worry. We don't suspect you, that's not why we are here. We do want to know a bit more about what happened to you though. Do you perhaps still recall any memories of what happened 17 years ago when you woke up from your own coma?" As he said those words Haruto froze up and his eyes widened. "Could you tell me what happened?" the young man started shaking his head frantically. "Why not? Does it scare you?" no reaction. Yamado slowly realized that there might actually be some truth to his theory. "Haruto. Is that your name?" he finally looked up and made eye contact. It was barely visible. It was so slight Yamada was unsure if he had actually seen it but he was shaking his head. "What is your name?" No answer. Was he moving to fast?

Aizawa leaned against the counter. "While researching about you and your son we found out you had troubles believing that Haruto was your son?" Aiko looked surprised about his forwardness. "At first, yes." "Is that not the case anymore?" he took a sip of his still steaming coffee. "Of course not. I was just confused." "Is that what the therapist told you?" Aiko starred at Aizawa as if he had killed her cat. "It's the truth. Of course he's my kid." She whispered. "What has changed since he woke up?" Aizawa tried a different but equally forward approach. "They said it was normal. I should just be happy. That he is a miracle. But..." Aiko started crying. "He was so confused. Didn't even recognized his own mother. It felt as if he had woken up from a weird dream. Haruto was a sweet boy. He was the entire joy of my existence. But that man." she pointed towards the door. "That isn't my son. There is no way! I tried convincing myself he is but... He has the same hair color and texture, the same eyes, same body but still he looks nothing like my son. Other people say he does but I can see what they can't." Even though the way she spoke and the expression she made gave the impression she was insane, Aizawa couldn't help but believe every word she said. "The doctors said that because he had been brain dead for some time he must have developed some sort of amnesia but it felt more like he was an alien. He had no idea what a computer was but was fascinated about the way we build our houses. He could talk hours about how smart it was to mainly use bricks instead of wood and all that stuff. I wasn't talking to a five year old, kind and well mannered boy who had lost years of his live. He was an 8 year old boy who was raised as if he couldn't afford to be a child. He was a stranger but he tried to help. He thought he'd have to do as much as me. It took him some time to get used to this live but once he did all he wanted was to help. I was so overwhelmed with the death of my own son and the fact that I had a new one now. One who didn't know anything about this place. So, I fucked him up. I mean look at him. But can you blame me? I know that he didn't deserve to be hated but I really do hate him. He stole my boy from me! I just..." Aiko broke down to her knees. "Where is my Haru? Why did he have to leave? Couldn't he at least have taken me with him?" Aizawa stood there with an emotionless face. Then he said: "If it's true what you believe then your son really is dead, Aiko. But that 8 year old boy lost a lot more then you did. He lost his parents, his home. All he had left was a stranger. So yes, you fucked up. There is no going back. We can't help you with getting your boy back or getting rid of the one in your living room." With that Aizawa explained to Aiko what Yamadas theory was in hopes that she could see him through different eyes. That way she would hopefully start treating him differently and he might just feel allowed to be here.

Yamado wasn't sure what else he could ask him. Now that his theory seemed to have at least some truth to it he had so many questions but also was aware of how fragile this topic was. "It would help a lot if I knew it you know. It feels wrong addressing you by the name Haruto now that I know it isn't yours." "Arlo" Haruto said very quietly. "Is that it? Arlo." Yamda asked carefully. "At least I think so. I was unsure because it has been so long but the way you said it... it feels right." Arlo said a bit louder. Yamada took of his glasses and but them onto the table. "It's nice to meet you then, Arlo. My name is Hizashi." Arlo looked up at him. "Hi, Hizashi." Yamada smiled. "Hi"

To be continued ...