Corpse Party: Damaged Souls

Chapter 19: Friends

 The auburn hair, the gentle smile, the face shape. Akahana was almost like a copy of her father. Aoi had gotten more of Seiko's features had anyone else. Damn it all, now it made sense!

I jumped from the chair and backed away from Hiro. A strange comes here and suddenly tells me who his family is? 

"How do I know you're not lying? I don't even remember you either!" 

"You were a baby when I left," he explained. "I never met your brother, but Seiko has kept me updated. Souta, his name was, a copy of Satoshi when he was younger." 

"Tell me something  about the girls," I said. " Tell me something I don't know about them. Or something I do know." 

Hiro sighed. "Before I had left, I told Seiko to give Akahana a locket, once she reached a certain age. When she was old enough, she would be allowed to open the locket, finding a picture of her mother and I inside. What I looked like, who she had gained her features from. Everything I have done, I wanted to make sure they would be safe in the end." 

"Then...you know about Akahana in Heavenly Host right?" I asked. 

His eyes met the floor. "Yes....I know. What happened with Aoi wasn't her fault. I understand what happened and that no one was in their right mind." 

"What's something you know about Aoi, from what you were told?" 

"She looks like her mother, the brown hair...everything. She enjoys the color blue, wears anything that's blue. She was much like that when she was younger too. Aoi...was very picky about the food she ate. She's allergic to peanuts as well." 

"Wow, you know a hell lot more than I do." 

" I am their father after all. The two of them were a handful for the short amount of time they were born. Always screaming for attention." 

"Yes, that's how children usually act. My mom said I was screaming my head off when I didn't get what I wanted in the end." 

He snickered, "Again, just being children." He wore a sad expression on his face. "Seiko knows how much I love the both of them. If the others find me, they're bound to try and get me arrested." 

"Yes, because my parents don't know about me sneaking out of the house." 

"You left your house without their acknowledgment?" he asked, standing up. 

I nodded timidly. "Y-yes." 

He was quiet for a couple of seconds, then he held up his hand. "Nice." 

I gave him a high five. "Are you sure you should be welcoming this behavior? I mean, I'm only in middle school--almost high school. My parents are bound to kill me for sure."   

"Yeah, but Satoshi and Naomi were never ones to punish others for their actions. Well, Naomi would say something like that if it was intentional." 

"Sounds like Mom," I muttered. 

Hiro chuckled, sitting back down. "Let us prepare for what we are suppose to do. Or should I say when Satoshi and Naomi come looking for their daughter?" 

"Sorry to say, but I'm going to be hiding in the meantime. Come up with a good excuse for me if you don't mind."  

"I'm the kind of man to give you a high five, not make sure you don't get out of trouble." 

I chuckled. This was definitely their father. Someone who would encourage bad behavior and make sure they don't get away with the next mistake. Sounds like Akahana could learn a thing or two from him. 

"So, what do I do?" I asked. 

"Make sure to come back here within a week," he explained. "If you're the only one, don't have anyone else follow you." 

"Alright." 

"Goodnight then." 

                                                                                             ~

I used my key to unlock the front door, hoping that no one would hear me. Just my luck, Souta was standing the doorway, as if he was waiting for me to come back. 

"How long were you there?"I asked, closing the door softly behind me. 

"Just now. I wanted to sleep in your room, but you weren't there." 

"Do Mom and Dad know?" 

"I have a feeling Mom knows something. But she didn't bother, maybe until you enter the living room." 

"I just hope they don't find me," I whispered. I took off my shoes and quietly stepped into the living room. Mom was there, sleeping on the couch, almost like she was waiting for me to come back. Though, if that was the case, then she would be awake. 

"How about you hurry to your room before she notices," Souta suggested. 

"Yeah, that would be best." 

The week would go by and soon enough they would call me once more. Before all of this, I would have to visit Ruka once more.