Our Reality (Doki Doki Literature Club!)

My Father and I Part 3

Shujinkou walked along the path up to the spa resort until he noticed a familiar pink-haired individual sitting next to the entrance.

"What are you doing out here, Natsuki?" Shujinkou asked.

"Nothing really," Natsuki answered, diverting her gaze and using her book to cover her pink cheeks. "I'm just reading some manga out in the moonlight. N-Not for any specific reason, in case you were wondering."

"Okay," Shujinkou scratched his right cheek.

Natsuki turned back to Shujinkou. He was holding a green balloon while wearing a t-shirt and hat from the local amusement park.

"You and your dad must have had a lot of fun today, huh..." Natsuki said.

"Mm," Shujinkou smiled. "Went to the amusement park, played some games and ate a lot of candy... lots and lots of candy."

"Oh... that's cool," Natsuki said with a casual shrug.

Natsuki silently stared at Shujinkou with a worried look on her face. It was like she knew something he didn't.

"You sure you're okay?" she asked.

"Yeah," Shujinkou said, scratching his right cheek once more. "Why would you ask?"

"No real reason. Just asking a question, dummy," Natsuki casually replied. "Anyway, we gotta pack our bags so we won't have any issues leaving tomorrow. You coming?"

"In a minute. I got something to do out here," Shujinkou said.

"Oh... Alright then," Natsuki answered, diverting her gaze once more. "Good night."

"Good night," Shujinkou replied, waving his fellow club member goodbye.

As soon as Natsuki was out of sight, Shujinkou walked to a nearby to a nearby bench and plopped down on the slightly cold surface. He felt the cold night air caress his cheeks as he closed his eyes and thought back to what happened earlier, back to when his father was rendered speechless by his sudden question.

"Why'd you leave?" Shujinkou asked his father again. He refused to take silence as an answer and already planned to keep asking until he got an answer.

"Because..." Jomei solemnly stared into his son's eyes. They were filled with determination and desperation. "I can't say..."

"Why not?" Shujinkou couldn't begin to fathom why is father couldn't answer such a simple question.

"Because it's none of your concern," Jomei sighed.

"None of my...!" Holding back his budding anger, Shujinkou sighed and asked, "What do you mean it's none of my concern? I think not having a father in my life is my concern. Not to mention you left at a time I really could've of used one."

"Kid..." Jomei sighed.

"Is that the reason why you left or did you have some kind of falling out with mom?" Shujinkou asked.

"Your mother doesn't have anything to do with why I left," Jomei answered.

Shujinkou bit his lip as another possible reason popped into his head. It was one he wanted to keep out, but he just had to know whether it was true or not.

"Am... Am I the reason you left?" Shujinkou asked.

Completely terrified of what the response could be, Shujinkou anxiously waited for his father to say something, anything. But his father remained silent, causing his anxiety to skyrocket. After waiting for what seemed like forever, Jomei finally opened his mouth.

"...Kinda," Jomei answered.

Shujinkou opened his eyes and started chuckling as he remembered the expression he had when he heard that.

"Guess it really was me after all," he said, scratching his right cheek. "It makes sense. I kinda always thought that could be the reason but I guess I just didn't want to believe it."

Letting out a sigh, Shujinkou looked up at the night sky as he felt something hot escape through his eyes. Thinking back to his childhood and every interaction he had with Jomei back then; there was just one more question he had left.

"Why doesn't he want me?" Shujinkou cried.

He was so wrapped up in his own sorrow that he was completely unaware that Natsuki was watching him the entire time.

"Dummy... Putting on such a brave face," she silently sympathized.

The next day, Shujinkou walked into the lobby with the of the Literature Club and let out a mountain sized yawn.

"Didn't get much sleep last night?" his grandmother asked, scratching her right cheek.

"Not really," Shujinkou answered, also scratching his right cheek.

"Don't worry, you can rest all you want on the way home," Hisa grinned.

"Yeah... I guess," a small smile crept onto his face. It felt nice to have a family member care about him.

But that small smile a worried expression to appear on his grandmother's face.

"Are you okay, Shujinkou?" she quiered.

"Yeah. I'm good," Shujinkou nodded.

"If you say so," Hisa said, quickly wrapping her arms around Shujinkou. "See ya, Shujinkou."

"See ya, Granny Hisa," Shujinkou smiled, hugging her back.

"See ya, Granny Hisa!" Sayori joined in the hug, squeezing the two with all her might.

"See ya, Sayori!" Hisa chuckled.

"It was nice meeting you, Lady Hisa," Monika smiled.

"It was nice meeting you all too," Hisa replied. "I want you all to know you can come back whenever you want."

"Like we can afford to do that," Natsuki said.

"That's a good one, Natsuki. Like I'd make you guys pay," Hisa chuckled. "Anyway, have a nice trip home, kids."

Nothing left to say, the Literature Club followed their fellow students out of the spa resort to return to their lives as high school students. With the resort devoid of all students, Hisa gently placed her earbuds in her ears and sighed.

"I warned that man and he still ended up hurting my grandson," she said. "He was smart to leave while I wasn't looking and also a bit lucky that Isamu's gone.""

Hisa started up her playlist of songs and slowly walked towards her office.

"I just hope things don't end up the same as last time," she lamented.

She soon stepped into her office, closed the door behind her and started to remember a moment she really didn't want to.

A long time ago, she visited her grandson and found him crying in his room.

"I know it hurts a lot right now, Shujinkou. But you have to believe me when I say that you'll soldier through it," Hisa said.

"I..." the young boy coughed as he continued to cry. "I'm the reason dad left, aren't I?"

"What!? Why would you say that?" Hisa asked.

"Because it just makes sense!" Shujinkou sobbed. "I'm the reason he left! I just know it!"

Unable to see her grandson in such a stat, Hisa pulled him into an embrace while breaking down into tears herself.

"That's not the reason he left," comforted Hisa, squeezing her grandson as hard as she could. "You're not the reason. I promise you, Shujinkou, you're not the reason."

Kitsune Spa Trip: The End