Courage to Fly

Burning Resolve

The morning that followed the stressful evening before was silent. And as Asahina slept, she was unaware of three things:

Her mother had called her 178 times. 

It was 2:17 in the afternoon.

Kanade was gone.

And she had received lots of texts.

Mother, Yesterday, 11:53 PM Read 

"Come home Asahina."

Mother, Yesterday, 11:53 PM Read

"Asahina."

Mother, Yesterday, 11:54 PM Read

"Asahina, please answer me!!"

Mother, Yesterday, 11:55 PM, missed call  📵

Mother, Yesterday, 11:55 PM, missed call 📵

Mother, Yesterday, 11:56 PM, missed call 📵

Mother, Yesterday, 11:57 PM, missed call 📵

Mother, Today, 12:00 AM, missed call 📵

Mother, Today, 7:08 AM, missed call 📵

Asahina was somewhat scared to see what would happen if the cops would be involved, and what this would mean for her future. 

And surprisingly, her father had sent a text.

Father, Today, 10:01 AM Read

"Asahina, please send me the location of where you are. Or, at least, come home first. I am worried, as much as your mother is. In fact, someone is here on your behalf. Maybe come home first."

Asahina had agreed to come home for a visit. She wasn't going to move back in, though. She was simply going to see what the fuss was over who this person was, although she had an inkling as to who that person was. If anything, she just wanted to make her emotions clear and refine boundaries that were never set.  

                                                                        ☆☆☆☆☆☆

At her house, which seemed so empty when she came in, she slowly browsed about. She didn't want her mom coming in and rushing into a hug. Hugs are nice and all, but in this case, her mom would possibly strangle her in the process. 

She couldn't find them anywhere, and she didn't want to draw attention to herself. Since every other part of the house was empty, she figured they were in her father's office.

He was usually far away from home when all of these traumatizing things happened. Surprisingly, she even remembered when he had been gone for days at a time at work when she was younger. 

When she came into her dad's office, the scene before her eyes froze. Her mother was shouting accusations at Kanade's face as Asahina's father, Mr. Mafuyu had been attempting to calm her down. 

"-and you, you've ruined her! She was perfectly fine. Perfect. All of my years that I've been with her. She's never  been like this! Last time I checked, it's not okay for her to ignore me, it's not okay for her to hide things from me-and now?! It's not okay for her to be running off to you! She has her family right where she needs them-here! She has me, and I'm not surprised she pities you. I've read your little love letters and poems! She's not going to be having this-"

Mrs. Mafuyu finally realized that her daughter stood in the doorway.

"Asahina." The one word was filled with so many emotions, even ones Asahina couldn't pinpoint. 

"Mother. I have already told you all of my intentions, have I not?" she murmured softly, the floor her staring point. "I mean, you've read the diary, no?"

Then, she looked at her mother. She seemed like all of her composure was lost. "Yes, of course, but-" And that was all she needed to hear. "Then, why? Why can't you be happy for me?"

Asahina looked her mother in the eye. The look wasn't supposed to mean anything in particular. It was just contact being made, to let her know she's listening, and expects her mother to do the same. 

Equality, in a sense. If a mother and child ratio could ever accomplish that.

"I want what's best for you. So you can be happy." her mother said, sickeningly sweet, but all the more sinister, at least to Asahina.

Her father spoke up. "I was shown the diary, not knowing it was yours. But, Asahina...if you felt this way, you could've told me, and I would've helped you....I would've quit work for you, to see you better...." he walked from the middle of the room towards his hurting child.

And he hugged her. Asahina thought the embrace might break her. This is one of the times her father hugged her, which was very much all the rare. It felt nice. She almost could cry. 

Kanade spoke up. "As I was saying Mrs. Mafuyu, this isn't fair, to anyone. You want your daughter back? Then maybe you should make things around here more to the needs of everyone. She's hurt that she can't be herself."

"It's true." Asahina murmured. "I don't want to be a doctor anymore. I don't think I ever wanted to be one in the first place, either." 

Her dad looked down at her face. "What do you mean?"

She looked back up at him. "Dad. I don't want to be a doctor. And I want a chance to choose what I can become, for myself." She broke at the last word. Tear after tear, a river of pain flowed from her eyes.

Her father looked lost in his emotions. "I should have been there to-"

"-Asahina. You don't have to be a doctor. Well, I... There's something I have to say to you today. ...Since... you ran away, I've been thinking the whole time. On that day I— No, until now, I was always hurting you. Because I thought becoming a doctor was your big dream... I was always mistaken this whole time... And because of that, I made you suffer so, so much. I forced my feelings on you, and for the sake of your future, you felt you had to endure it all— I'm really...... so sorry, Asahina. Just come back. And be my daughter." her mother said. 

And they all looked at Asahina. Why, she didn't know.

"It...h-hurts." Asahina said. "A lot."

"I know, it's going to be okay." her father had never broken their embrace, hugging her tighter still.