For the team

Chapter 7

Haru’s POV

            Me: I’m sorry; she usually doesn’t act like this.

            Mr. Takashima: It’s alright. I know she doesn’t act like this regularly.

            Mrs. Takashima: It’s because of me. I didn’t bother to care for her when she was younger. I forced her to do things, I blamed her, accused her, and I gave her things that were from other people that could’ve bought her myself. You can say I hated her but, truly I didn’t know how to teach her. She basically knew everything her age and everything a couple of grades higher than herself without me. She was truly an independent person as a child.

            Yuuto: It was true. As an older brother I cared only about myself. I didn’t notice her feelings or the way she hide herself and her feelings well from others. She didn’t cut or anything but she would always sit at the edge of the pool looking at the sky. She wouldn’t complain or anything.

            Mrs. Takashima: I’m not sure if she told you this but, I would hit her frequently even if it wasn’t her fault; everything was made entirely her fault until she met you. She didn’t want to do anything, and she wanted to move away. Remember, this was at the age of 9 that she said this. So of course I said no. But then, one day she just left the house but the house was clean. She left a note saying that she wasn’t going to come back that she was staying at your house.

            Mr. Takashima: I told her the night before that as long as she was staying with someone she trusts and is someone that has a legal guardian supervising them all the time then it was fine. But I never thought that she would just run away the next day.

            Mrs. Takashima: It was my entire fault. She’s like this because of me. I didn’t even look at her after the age of 6 when she started going to school. She was who I wanted to be as a person. I was envious of her and her talents and skills. I was stupid to force her into that kind of situation.

            Me: Maybe if you would like, come to our prefecture tournament tomorrow.

            They both looked at each other and nodded.

            Mr. Takashima: We’re grateful for you to invite us to watch. We will certainly come to watch with Yuuto and Chouko.

            Me: How long will you be staying for?

            Mr. Takashima: If possible, two months.

            Me: I see. Also, one more thing…

            Mr. Takashima: Yes?

            Me: May I date your daughter, Shiro?

            Mr. Takashima: You don’t have to ask to know my answer. You’ve been taking care of her for all these years and I’m sure she’s done the same. You won my approval already, long time ago to be exact. So please take care of her for us.

            I nodded and they got up from their seats. They all started putting on their shoes and I saw them out the door. I watched them leave but at the same moment Shiro comes back and watches them leave as well.