The Boy With The Blank Stare: The Promise

Chapter Thirteen: The One Who Came Home.

Ouma's POV:

I can't believe how much he got me...I'm going to get fat, aren't I? Yeah I'm definitely going to get fat...this is the best day ever.

I couldn't help but grin at the thought.

"Ouma?" Kiibo called before knocking, I turned around, "oh you're here...sorry thought you would be off doing...wait what do you do after school again? You keep escaping the question!" Kiibo asked.

'Learn sign language first' I told him with a straight face, "HEY! I know most of those words at least!" Kiibo argued, I raised an eyebrow. "Ok I know two words, still...can we talk? I know you might be upset by this and I wasn't going to tell you at first but...remember Danuja?-No wait of course you do I'm an idiot...ok well you know how he had a brother right?" Kiibo asked cautiously.

Takura...I guess he did have a little brother, I almost forgot about that, his brother was only maybe six when Takura had died, he would be around eleven now huh...?

"Ok I'm guessing you do...well he got into contact with me and wants to meet you so he can learn more about Takura he said? Apparently, he was too young to really remember him that well...so I was wondering if you wouldn't mind doing that for him?" Kiibo asked.

'I'm not opposed?' I told him, but a slow dread filled my body. Why am I nervous? I shouldn't be nervous. I'm not telling his brother what happened...I'm just talking about Takura.

So I can't be nervous.

I...can't be scared...right?

...

"It's supposed to happen on Friday"

~-~-~

"You're going to meet Danuja's little brother?" Saihara asked interested, I nodded 'I can't say no when they had to find Kiibo just to ask me.

'I was wondering if you could act as a translator for me though' I asked hesitantly, "Kiibo doesn't know enough sign language yet'

"Oh sure...hey Ouma why do you look so nervous?" Saihara asked concerned,

....

'It's nothing' I told him trying my best to remain calm at least in front of him.

"Ouma-"

'I need to do this Saihara, so please just don't try and stop me...I'll be fine alright?' I promised him.

"I...just don't push yourself alright? You don't have to do this, I'm sure Danuja had other friends..."

'His other friends are dead.'

"Ouma, I'm sure he had other friends...I know for sure Chiasa did, she had a group of people she would share cat memes with on a forums group" Saihara told me laughing.

...

'That was me.'

"Wait you like cats?- Well besides the point you don't need to be the one right now. I'm sure he would understand-"

"N-no..." I muttered out cursing my weak voice...'no, I want to do this for Takura. I owe it to him as his friend, because I was the one who survived.

'And...when I talked about Tsuki...and how we used to tease her about her crush on Kiibo...I felt relieved, knowing that even if I died or somehow forgot DICE...they wouldn't be forgotten.'

...

Oh god that was to personal, hes going to think I'm pathetic. I don't want him to coddle me...why did I say that? Why am I such an idiot-

"Fine, ok then. I'll help you, alright...?" Saihara agreed finally. I sat there shocked 'really?' I asked.

"Of course"

I smiled.

~-~-~-~

This was a horrible idea.

At a normal coffee shop I sat there nervous as I waited for the arrival of Takura' brother Aito.

"You see now why I said coffee was a bad idea?" Saihara joked pathetically, I wished I could punch him for that line.

"Hello...you're Ouma...right?" A shy voice asked, his voice was laced in dread.

I nodded as I squeezed my hands tighter, I heard a chair getting drawn out.

...

"So...you were my brothers friend...?" He asked nervously, I nodded again, 'I knew Takura since we were in third grade' I told him Saihara quickly translated.

"Ah...I...I think I remember seeing you around our house...yeah..." he reminisced.

'I think one of you used to bring me candy...that girl was nice..." he mumbled, 'that was Riko, she adored you because she thought all babies were adorable. Mirai was terrified of you though' I joked.

"Oh...yeah kids are devils..." he agreed dryly.

"Uhm...what...why did...I think I know why Takura jumped that day" Aito said.

I stopped breathing for a second, a slow reality setting inside of me...he thinks his brother commited suicide...and...what would be worse actually...? Believing he was depressed...or knowing he was violently murdered...and that crime got covered up...which is harder to live with...?

'What do you mean...?' I asked concerned, I heard the squeaky rubber seats shift on his side.

"Tak...Mom likes showing me off to other parents and putting me in dumb contests...I saw pictures so I know she did the same for Takura...

"She and him always got into arguments over it, because Mom didn't like his hobbies...did you know...a week after he died...my Mom sold all of his anime figurines, and posters and anything else that remained is just in some dusty boxes...that's why I remembered you actually...I found a photo of you and his other friends inside..." Aito admitted.

...

"I just...thought that was why...he dod what he did, because he didn't...Mom was mad...because he didn't...

"...I'm sorry...I shouldn't have...you probably already knew...it was a pact right...? You jumped to...didn't you...?" Aito asked.

"Wait-" Saihara asked trying to derail the situation.

'Takura was a kind and empathetic person, he was also the most anxious kid I knew. He would always try and fit in with others only to be put down for it.

'He never would admit it when he was struggling. Never. He was so stubborn about it because he thought he was burdening us.

'I wish he did talk to us more. But he was one of the best people to talk to, always reccomending new shows..and I'm sure he would have made you a fully fledged otaku had he lived...he...he was...'

I wiped my eyes. Silence filled the air.

As Aito got up from his seat before pausing for two seconds.

"Why couldn't Takura come home then, if you loved him so much?"