The Japanese Tutor (PART I-II) [ONGOING]

XVIII: Yearning and Midnight Dwellings

"Someone... important to her?" Hiroto felt bothered. He was staring at the naked trees covered with snow below his eye level but determined to listen to the young lady's mentor.

"Have you noticed her and her brother's name?" Yui questioned the man beside her with raising eyebrows, "that might give you a clue."

Hiroto didn't speak. He had a lack of memory regarding tiniest details in his past.

"It's fine when you don't know anything, but do you know that Japanese characters hold various meanings and pronunciations?" Yui asked him again, with a fact afterward.

Hiroto nodded. "I know, Ms. Tanaka. That is why I have difficulties understanding them."

Yui grinned and went inside, hesitated the younger. He looked behind to watch her picked up a familiar journal from her student's bag and inched her head closer to Aya to whisper her apology. Afterward, she returned to the balcony and slowly closed the door.

"You see, Hiro, this is a journal that I found somewhere in their residence." Yui opened the journal to its first page. "I think it's sometime during the funeral. I reminisced Tsuki had a dedication to writing this during his stay in Britain as an ambassador. I feel bad for his loss, but at the same time I have hate—"

"Hate?" Hiroto emphasized, "so you have issues with her father?"

The mentor sighed as her lousy eyes focused at him, "it's a long story, but since Fumishi's death, he drastically changed. That's all I can say. It's very personal."

"Oh... "

"Let's go back to the topic, shall we?"

Hiroto nodded, grinning her.

Yui pointed out a set of kanji that made Hiroto shifted closer to see. It was very similar to Aya's from the start until the end. This made his eyes widened with new knowledge, but with a bitter realization.

"I was surprised that this journal went to her possession. Also surprised that she thought that her father's writing is everything about her, but I couldn't help that," Yui continued as she kept turning pages, looking for crucial information, "if she realizes the truth, I don't think she will believe it."

"So, you're here to help her around," Hiroto replied.

Yui nodded.

"I wish I can help too... especially she'll not be around in my proximity."

She didn't reply but felt regret. She looked at the distant view of a city kilometers away from the residence. She was concerned for him. She didn't want him to place in danger especially he was part of a powerful family. Hiroto had a strong future that she and Aya didn't have. One attempt and he would not come back to his desired path.

"I'm sorry, Ms. Tanaka. I seemed to cross the line."

Yui returned to the room and returned the journal to the bag. She swore herself, thinking she broke what Aya's deceased brother told her. She gulped, reminiscing her skin soaked with sweat by the hotness of the room and lack of ventilation. She knelt on the floor to check on the sleeping young lady. Then, she carefully moved the hair that covered her eyes and ears.

The slight touch of her soft skin dropped a tear from the mentor's eye.

"I'm so glad that you're alive."

Yui embraced the young girl beside her. She watched over her for days inside her bedroom, dwelling in unconsciousness. Who said that she wouldn't make it alive? Those doctors were dramatic who wanted to pronounce her dead. She knew that Aya would make it, with her strong heartbeat as the last hope. She had a desire to shout to the world that the rescued child of the Yamaguchi family was healthy.