Erase

Act 74: The Promise

-Streets 11:10 AM-

Kurumi and her daughter Jun were walking in the streets, when Kurumi decided to ask a question.

"Say, Jun. Did you enjoy our little trip today?" Said Kurumi.

Jun nods enthusiastically in response.

"Haha! I knew you would." Said Kurumi.

"Let's do this again next time!" Jun replied.

"I don't really want to go out that much but..." Said Kurumi. "Anything for my beloved daughter."

"Yay! I can't wait!" Jun replied. "First we buy strawberry ice cream, then we..."

"Hey, hey, settle down, Jun..." Said Kurumi, amused by Jun's enthusiasm. "We'll do that next week, I promise!"

"Is that a real promise?" Jun replied.

"Haha! Of course it is!" Said Kurumi. "When did I ever let you-"

However, Kurumi's speech was then interrupted by another round of violent coughing. A thoroughly concerned Jun runs up to her mother.

"Mommy? Are you okay?" Said Jun.

"It's just a cough, Jun..." Kurumi replied. "Nothing serio-"

Kurumi then notices something peculiar with her right hand, which she used to cover her mouth with: it was filled with a strange, thick, reddish liquid substance, otherwise known as...

"... Blood?" Said Kurumi.

After a few seconds of coughing, Kurumi noticed that her hand was filled with blood.

"Mommy? What's that on your...?" Said Jun.

Jun then saw the blood on Kurumi's hand, and was immediately alarmed.

"Mommy! There's... blood!" Said Jun. "On your hand...!"

"Yeah... I thought so-" Kurumi replied

For the third time in a row, Kurumi began coughing violently once again. The coughing was so strong, that she began to kneel over.

"MOMMY!" Shouted Jun, as tears start flowing down her face. "No... I don't want Mommy to die!"

Jun stood there in the middle of the street, helpless, as her mother continued to violently cough up blood. In her desperation, she proceeded to call out the people around her.

"Someone, anyone... please help!" Said Jun.

2 YEARS LATER

It was eventually revealed that Kurumi suffers from an incredibly rare terminal disease. Doctors have determined that the disease would eventually spread through her whole body, and estimated that at the span of two years, would end up claiming her own life.

Kurumi knew about her disease long ago, but didn't have the heart to tell Jun about her full condition. She feared that it would shock her young little mind.

Two years had passed since that day. At this point, Kurumi's health had deteriorated considerably, to the point that she was bedridden. At this point, there was no point in trying to hide her condition from Jun.

Day after day, Kurumi could feel her health decline. Unfortunately, all of the money that she had saved up was already spent on all of her hospital bills. It got to the point that not even Mr. Ozawa giving them over half of his tavern's monthly profits was able to support them.

With no job or relatives to fall back on, and no more money in her pocket, Kurumi was not given any further treatment for her disease. Eventually, she realized that she only had a few more days to live.

-Apartment 2:10 PM-

Kurumi was laying down on her futon, while the young Jun was sitting by her side, looking down, crying her eyes out as she watches her mommy slowly succumb to her illness.

Kurumi looked by her side and saw her daughter weeping beside her. In spite of her condition, she decides to talk to her daughter.

"J... Jun..." Said Kurumi.

"M-Mommy...?" Jun replied.

"You have grown a lot... since the day I gave birth to you..." Said Kurumi. "But unfortunately... Mommy's not gonna be by your side forever..."

"M-Mommy, don't say that!" Jun replied. "You promised me that we would buy some strawberry ice cream once you get better!"

"I know... I'm sorry, Jun..." Said Kurumi. "But sadly... it seems that Mommy... won't be able to fulfill her promise..."

Kurumi then starts coughing up violently, further worrying Jun.

"No, Mommy! Don't go...!" Said Jun. "Who will take care of me if you go...?"

"It's OK... Jun... Mr. Ozawa is there for you..." Kurumi replied. "He's a very nice guy... I'm sure he will take good care of..."

Once again, Kurumi's words were interrupted by yet another round of violent coughing. Jun could do nothing but watch her in anguish.

"Mommy..." Said Jun.

Constantly out of breath and visibly struggling, Kurumi knew that her time was near, and so in her dying breath, she finally decides to tell Jun the truth about her father.

"One last thing..." Said Kurumi. "Your... real father..."

"My father...?" Jun replied.

"His name..." Said Kurumi.

Kurumi signals Jun to come closer, after which she then whispers something to her ear.

"Kyu... ki..." Whispered Kurumi.

And with those last words spoken, Kurumi's consciousness slowly withers away. Jun cries out her mother's name as she tries to wake her up, but it was all in vain.

"Mommy! No, Mommy! Please... wake up...!" Said Jun. "Please wake up, Mommy...! Don't go..."

However, Kurumi did not respond, much to her anguish. When it all sank in for Jun, she had no other choice but to cry.

Her Mommy won't be coming back anytime soon, and she knew it.

"MOMMY!!!" Shouted Jun, crying out in anguish.

A FEW MONTHS LATER

-Cemetery 3:21 PM-

Since then, a few months have passed since Kurumi's tragic passing. Jun visits her mother in her grave for the first time since her burial.

However, upon coming close to the grave, she can do nothing but break down in tears. Jun couldn't even bring herself to place the flowers that she had bought for her late mother.

"It's OK, Jun. Let me handle it." Said a male voice.

Mr. Ozawa then walks behind her, takes the flowers that she was holding, and places them near her tombstone. Along the way, he also lights up a few sticks of incense.

"Mr. Ozawa..." Said Jun.

"You miss your mommy... right?" Mr. Ozawa replied. "To be honest... I miss her too. We all miss her..."

"Mr. Ozawa... why do people have to die...?" Said Jun.

"That's... an interesting question." Mr. Ozawa replied. "I don't know the answer either..."

"I guess it's just the rules of nature..." Mr. Ozawa continued. "All good things must come to an end... that's what they say."

"I just hope Kurumi's in a better place now..." Mr. Ozawa continued. "We're all gonna miss her so..."

Mr. Ozawa looks at his friend's grave, trying to hold back his own tears. Eventually, he decided that it was time to go home.

"Let's go now..." Said Mr. Ozawa.

Mr. Ozawa then walks away from the cemetery, after which Jun follows suit. Both of them carrying heavy hearts as they proceed through the struggles of life, with one less person by their side.

TO BE CONTINUED