Through the Night

Picking Up The Pieces

"Hey, mom, can we meet somewhere to talk?" I asked, trying really extra hard to keep my voice steady.

"Yeah, where? I have today off." She replied nonchalantly. I smiled into the phone. I wouldn't have to wait to get answers. 

"I was thinking about heading to the Moon's Demon, is that okay with you?" She made a humming sound, and I knew I'd suggested just where she wanted to go.

"Yeah, I'll meet you there is twenty." She responded. I pulled my shoes on as I walked out the door, and said a quick, "See you soon" into the phone. I hurried down the stairs, racing across the grassy field that separated the dorms and college from the parking lot. I got in and started the car, the song Wait by M83 drifts through the speakers, and I hurry to turn it down. 

I don't think I can take that without crying right now. After Yuu had faded away, her emotions found a place in my own heart, her sadness, grief, regret, and her hope. She had given me her hope, and that's the only reason she had been there, her hope for someone to find her and help her. That person was me. Before I knew it, I was at the cafe and I parked my car. My mom was already there, her long pink hair making her stand out among the rest of the people there. 

"Hey Mom." I greeted tiredly. She smiled, but her eyes shone with motherly concern.

"How much sleep have you been getting?" She asked as we sat down at a table in the corner, giving me a perfect view of the door. 

"The normal, Except for last night when I couldn't sleep." Because of Yuu... but I didn't say that.

"Alright, what did you want to talk about?" She asked, stirring the coffee that had just been set down in front of her, I stared at mine, unsure of whether to ask her about Yuu or not.

"Uh... how do I say this... " I began, looking everywhere but her eyes. "Did you ever know a Yuu?" I finished as my eyes met hers. They were wide, shocked, and it looks like I'd also brought up a lot of grief that she hadn't felt in years.

"Yes, very long ago, but he died because of the careless mistakes of mine and others." One word especially caught my attention. She wasn't a she, but a he? So he cross dressed? 

"Mistakes?" That's what confused me. Mom never mentioned making mistakes. She never mentioned Yuu.

"I don't know if that's the right word... maybe the word misconceptions is better." 

"What kind of misconceptions?" I asked after a moment of silence. She took a small sip of her coffee before answering.

"Well, this was when I found out I was pregnant with you... I was a violin teacher then, and my star pupil and the student I was closest to was Yuu. He always put so much emotion into playing, and it was quite a spectacular show whenever he played in front of others, but many didn't exactly accept him..." She closer her eyes, and I heard her take a breath, steadying herself for what was to come.

"Because he cross dressed right?" I asked, trying to clarify it. She nodded and bit her lip. I knew then that there was more to the story that she wasn't telling me. "What else?"

"That part is not mine to tell. You'd have to go to Guren and Shinya or his close friends for the rest of the story." She murmured, but lifted her eyes up to meet mine. "Why do you want to know anyways?" 

"I heard my friends talking about it when they thought I couldn't hear, they mentioned you and I wanted to find out." I lied, but it seems like she accepted that, seeing as we both knew how my friends enjoyed a good dark story.

"Alright, as long as you don't tell anyone else I don't see why you shouldn't know if you want to. I, however can not say what happened next. That's for those closest to him to tell." She sighed, bringing her coffee up to her lips. "You'll find one is professor of the arts, Shinya Hiragi, start there."