The Disconsolate Maiden

Chapter Forty-Four

Before Homura knew it, her entire week off had flown on by, just one final day remaining. Having not spoken to her father in years, the girl decided to do what would be right. She had to call him.

"I'm going to hate myself for this, aren't I...?" Homura sighed as she pulled out her old phone, punching in her father's number. She still somehow remembered it, but she was unsure if he still used the line. "What if he doesn't answer..."

The phone only rang for two seconds, someone immediately answering on the other end of the line.

"Hello, this is the Kanojo residence. How may I help you?" a woman with a soft, sweet voice spoke into the receiver.

"D-Did you say Kanojo?" Homura asked nervously.

"Indeed I did," the woman replied, "what do you need?"

"My name is Homura," Homura quickly said. "Homura Kanojo."

"I don't have any daughters," the woman said calmly. "I'm assuming I would be your stepmother now then, wouldn't I? Is your father a sharp businessman with jet black hair cut in an uptight fashion?"

"I-I haven't seen him in a long time, but that's how he was when I last spoke to him..." Homura replied, her phone nearly slipping out of her hand from how sweaty her palms had grown.

"He's not working today since it's the weekend. Here in England, he has much more time off," the lady said.

"E-England...?" Homura stammered, nearly falling onto her bed in shock. "I guess he moved..."

"Would you like to speak to him?" the lady asked, already handing over her phone to her husband.

And before Homura could even reply, there was a nasty, "What do you want?" on the end of the line.

"T-This is your daughter, H-Homura," she said nervously.

"Who is Homura? I don't have a daughter anymore. My daughter died back in Tokyo years ago. Don't remind me of her. Never again," Mr. Kanojo spat.

"I-I just wanted to check on you," Homura sighed. "I still don't understand what I did wrong...could you at least tell me?"

"You want to know what you did wrong? Unbelievable! You're just garbage that doesn't deserve the life that was given to you! Darling Yuka died because of you. I hope you die the most horrible death. I hope you suffer. I hope you never enjoy a single moment of your life ever again," her father's hissed angrily.

"I-I'm sorry..." Homura apologized, almost bowing even though he couldn't see her at all.

"What even are you doing to survive now? I thought you would have been dead by now. I feel so disappointed," Mr. Kanojo sighed irritatedly. "At least your grandparents died. I'm glad you never saw them again. Bad influences..."

"They died...?" Homura gasped in horror, ignoring his first question. "Why didn't you tell me?!"

"Why would I take time out of my life to tell a woman her fake family passed away? There is no such thing as love in this world. So, why would I bother telling a brat like you, that someone who didn't even care about them, that they died? Hm? Give me a reasonable explanation," he spat.

"I-I don't know...maybe because your my father? I would expect you to care, even if it was just a little..." Homura did softly.

"What's your occupation now?" Mr. Kanojo asked abruptly, his voice still sharp.

"I-I..." Homura stuttered. Guilt washed over her, not wanting to tell him a single thing.

"Well? I don't have all day. Spit it out so I can hang up," Mr. Kanojo snapped.

"I'm still an i-idol..." Homura finally said, hoping he wouldn't ask any more questions and just leave it at that. It had been a mistake to call him.

"What kind of idol? I haven't seen your name in any papers anywhere," Mr. Kanojo snorted. "I still check the news in Tokyo everyday, you know."

"I'm more of an...internet idol," Homura said vaguely, but her father knew good and well what she meant.

From the other side of the line, the sound of a bottle shattering could be heard, as well as the angry yells of her father, who had apparently just abandoned the phone where he was sitting.

A few seconds later, he picked up the phone, screaming and yelling at his daughter.

"I wish you had never been born, you disgrace! You disgust me to such an extent, you make me want to commit suicide! No wonder I moved here to England! Just living in the same country as you would make me feel so filthy. I really do hope you live a horrible life. I hope something devours you and makes you suffer the way your entire existence has made me suffer!" Mr. Kanojo yelled so loudly into the phone, Homura had to hold hers away from her ear a bit. "I hate you."

And like that, he hung up, leaving Homura there, her bottom lip quivering in shock.

"He said..." Homura whimpered, sinking down to the floor just as she had done the night he left. "He's right...I shouldn't...I shouldn't be alive."