20 Days In The Past - Aikatsu Love Story (SenAka)

Reliving Tragedy

April 12, 2016

        "No no no! No!!!!!" Akari said, dialling her phone at 8pm.  Neither her mom or dad answered.  She ran down the streets of Tokyo.  There it was, the wrecks of her parents car, with a sea of officers, and paramedics crowded around the scene.  She couldn't understand, they were on the other side of Tokyo from where the accident originally was.  She followed her gps on her phone, the one she uses to track her parents for emergencies.  She finally arrived, and it was just their burnt car.
       "Excuse me sir, do you know what happened?" She asked.  A kind police woman looked at the curious girl.
       "The car's engine blew up, police are still investigating the cause."  Akari widened her eyes.
      "Are they okay?"
      "We don't know yet Miss.  The passenger has been sent in an ambulance, but we haven't recovered the driver yet."
      "Was it a woman or a man?" She asked eagerly.
      "A woman."
      "Katouji-san, I believe we found a wallet with id." A man said approaching the officer.  Akari looked at the idea, covering her mouth with her hands as tears welled in her eyes.
       "Hey aren't you that famous idol?" The second officer asked.  Akari nodded in tears.  The officers looked at the surname on the i.d.
       "Was she your mother?" Akari nodded again.  The first officer looked sympathetically upon the girl.  "Your mother will be okay.  She got out of the car, but fainted.  We assume she passed out from the gas fumes.  I'm unsure about the driver though." Akari was still distraught, as memories from the first accident lingered her memories as if yesterday.
        "This can't happen again....." She muttered before running closer to the scene.
        "Miss, you can't pass." An officer said blocking her.  Akari fought, trying to see the scene.  Akari kept fighting to see the scene up close until the firefighters recovered the body.  Akari's eyes widened, as she screamed,
        "Papa! Papa!"
        The first officer, Katouji ran up to her, putting a hand on her shoulder.
        "Oozora-san, do you want a ride back to the academy?" She asked.  Akari nodded, sniffling.

       "I'm really sorry you had to see that, I know how hard it is." Katouji-san said.  Akari looked at Katouji's face through the rear view mirror and nodded.  "I understand what you are going through.  I lost my parents young too."
        "You did?" Akari said.
        "I understand it's hard, but know that they both love you very much, and I'm sure they were very proud of you."
       "My aunt and grandmother are both going to get custody of me.  I know how bad things will go.  They want me to be someone I am not."
       "Awe, aren't there other family members from the other side?"
       "Most of them live in Canada or live seasonally in Japan.  Only my aunt and Grandmother permanently live in Tokyo.  One of the first things they'll do is take my grief as an advantage to talk me into being a business woman."
        "My, I can't imagine how tough that is."
        "The Oozora family mostly has lawyers, doctors, accountants and major successors.  My father was the black sheep, because he was true to himself.  But with him gone, I know they'll try to pry me away from my idol career."
       "Oh my goodness! You mean you're the Akari Oozora?"
       "Yeah, that's me."
       "My daughter is a huge fan! Her and I sing along with your music sometimes when you're on tv."
       "Awe that's sweet." Akari started to feel a bit better.
       "I know families can be really tough, but stay true to yourself.  Always." The cop said.  The car came to a stop in front of the academy gates.
       "I really can't thank you enough, Officer." Akari said, getting out of the police car.  Katouji-san came out of the car and gave Akari a hug.
       "I truly think your mother will be okay." She said.  She pulled away. "Take care." 
       "Thank you, have a good night." Akari said before Katouji got in the car and drove away.

April 13, 2016

        Akari spent the whole night in tears.  She only had 2 hours of sleep, and drank 2 cups of coffee in order to wake herself up the next morning for work.  She spent that day in a daze, grieving her parents, like the first time it happened.
        "Akari-chan?"
        Akari turned around.  It was her fairy godmother, holding Akari's phone.  Akari's heart sank as she looked at her phone screen.  It was ringing Tsubasa.
       "I hate to do this but you really need to have someone to talk to.  I can tell Sena-san has feelings for you." She said.  Akari stared blankly.  "Look, I understand how hard it is to lose your parents a second time, but don't lose everything else again as well." Akari took her phone back.  "I suggest you go to him with your troubles, he will listen."
       "Will my parents make it?"
       "You changed time, so the situation changed slightly as well.  I definitely believe there is a fair likelihood of it, but it's on you."
       "Did the fire start from my parents car originally?"
       "Yes, their breaks were cut while they were both in the science lab."
       "So someone tried to murder them?"
       "I do not know.  I have investigated both times, though.  Both accidents were of same cause."
       "What could have changed that my mom has more of a chance this time?"
       "Their car wasn't collided with another car in the time of the accident, so the car had instead collided with a building, therefore not being trapped with a second car's fire.  They were also driving slower, as they didn't need to make their moves aggressively in the fight of traffic.  Those are just possibilities."
      Tsubasa answered the phone.
       "Hello?" Tsubasa's voice rung through Akari's phone.  The fairy godmother disappeared as Akari put the phone to her ear.
       "Um, I really need to talk to someone right now." Akari said.
       "Yeah sure, what's going on?"  Akari's voice went dull.
       "My parents got into a car accident."
       "I'll be right there." He said before hanging up.  She widened her eyes, as she looked in the mirror.  She looked terrible.  Her red hair was greasy, and tousled in a mess.  Her eyes were red and puffy, with eye bags underneath.

7:00pm

        Akari took a shower, washing the oil from her hair.  When she was out of the shower she did her makeup minimally, only to cover dark circles.  After 20 minutes, she heard a knock.
        The minute she opened the door, Tsubasa pulled her into a hug.  She held him back silently, her heart pounding loud.
        "Are you okay?" He asked, closing the door behind him.
        "Honestly, how could I be?" She said, as they sat down in her living room.  He put his arm around her.  "My parents could die at any moment." Akari broke down.  Tsubasa held her as she cried.  "I feel so helpless."
        "You're not." He said.
        "Last night I saw it with my own eyes.  It was a nightmare...." She broke into another fit of sobs.  "I saw my Dad's body get carried out of the burning car..."  Tsubasa held here tighter, as she cried into his shoulder.  He felt helpless, like all he wanted was for her to smile yet nothing he could do would at that moment.  She had spent a few minutes just silently crying, as he patiently sat by her, holding her.  His heart ached, as seeing Akari as such a mess brought his own heart distress.  All he wanted to do was make her feel better, but all he could do was hold her as she cried.