Parallel Vol. 4 [LEGACY EDITION]

Chapter 74.2: Mato Suzuki (2)

"The day you were born," muttered Kashi as he looked at Little Su with a heavy expression. "If the first memory was the day you were born, then the second..."

Suzuki... no, Little Su's gaze narrowed as he raised his right hand and snapped his finger.

Kashi involuntarily blinked for a moment. When he opened his eyes, he and Little Su had returned to their old living room. It was early morning, judging by the rays of sunlight streaming in from the windows. The child, Suzuki sat on the couch with a pensive expression. By his side, his mother also sat with a nervous expression, like she was scared of something.

Clack!

Kashi turned to the entrance at the same time as Suzuki and his mother. Suzuki's expression instantly brightened, an elated smile as his father walked into the home, disheveled, but with a happy grin.

Ryumaki knelt down and hugged Suzuki who ran into his open arms. Patting his son's head, he proudly announced, "The project is complete, Su! From now on, it's just going to be the three of us, doing whatever you want. But first, we'll start with the National Competition." Dangling his car keys, he grinned and said, "Who's ready to go conquer Japan?"

"Me!" Suzuki proudly shouted, and then snorted with laughter as Ryumaki lifted, and then carried him with one arm.

Ryumaki hugged Ruri with his other arm. Smiling softly, he caressed her head and apologized, "I have made you suffer these past years. I'll spend the rest of my life making it up to you."

"Mm-mm." Ruri shook, and then buried her head in his chest. "I'm just glad you're finally back."

Little Su's eyes narrowed, rage burning in his eyes as he observed his father. As a child, Suzuki did not notice it, but his father's eyes were droopy, and his overall demeanor was tired and fatigued. Clearly, the man had spent an all-nighter to complete the project before rushing over for his son's big day.

"It all comes back to that project," spat Little Su. "Everything. If he had not pulled that all-nighter, things would have been different."

Kashi, however, shook his head. "You don't know that. It was a freak accident. It could have happened whether he was tired or in tip-top condition."

Little Su chose to not reply. Instead, he once again snapped his fingers. This time, when Kashi opened his eyes, he and Little Su sat on either side of Suzuki at the back seat of a sedan while Ryumaki and Ruri sat in the front seats.

The family joked and laughed as they listened to a comedian on the radio. Occasionally, Ryumaki let out a short yawn or two, but he seemed to be in control so Ruri did not push to take the wheel.

Little Su's eyes narrowed as they approached a bend on the mountainous road. "It's here."

Suddenly, a deer jumped out from the bend startling the family. Ryumaki quickly swerved in attempt to dodge the deer. Unfortunately, this took him into the opposite lane, where a white truck was barreling towards them.

Ryumaki's heart froze, and he immediately tried to swerve back into his lane. Unfortunately, it had rained the night before. The wet, slick road, offered no friction, which made accelerating back onto the right path far too difficult.

The truck driver, noticing the sliding car, immediately cut to the right to dodge Ryumaki's car. Unfortunately, Ryumaki's car chose that moment to finally gain some traction, and instantly dashed into the truck's path.

BAM!

Kashi's heart jumped into his throat as the truck struck their bonnet like a demolition ball, sending their car careening over the guardrail. Ryumaki, Ruri and Suzuki panicked, shouting for help as the car tumbled down the mountain, until it finally crashed into the forest below.