(the sounds of birds and footsteps)

Koujaku:

We’ve been walking for quite a while…are you all right?

Aoba:

Heh, I’m fine.

Koujaku:

It’s because it’s so deep in the mountains… Ah, look. You can see it now. That’s it.

Aoba:

Uwah…that’s it.

(they approach)

Koujaku:

(sighs) We finally made it.

Aoba:

This is…

Koujaku:

Yeah. (the wind brushes through the leaves on the trees) I haven’t come in quite a long time, so it’s really gone to ruin, hasn’t it? The weeds have run amok too. We’d better clean it up before we offer the flowers up.

Aoba:

I’ll help out.

Koujaku:

Sorry for that.

Aoba:

Nu uh, it’s fine.

Koujaku:

All right. Then let’s start with clearing away the weeds.

Aoba:

Mhm, got it.

(the boys clean up, pouring water over the grave)

Koujaku:

Mhm. We’ve got it pretty clean now.

Aoba:

Aah…that’s right. That’s because we did it together.

Koujaku:

You were a big help. Thank you. (he pours water over the grave again, settling down) Now I can finally say it…I’ve returned, Mother. (he sighs slightly) The last time I came here was before I returned to Midorijima, so it was quite a while ago. I’m sorry that I haven’t came by very often. In exchange for that, I’ve brought Aoba along.

Aoba:

(settles down) It’s been a while.

Koujaku:

I’m sure that Mother would be happy to see you, Aoba.

Aoba:

Then I’m glad.

Koujaku:

Yeah… (the wind blows through the trees again, the birds chirp) …Aoba.

Aoba:

Hm?

Koujaku:

After this I’m going to say a few words for myself. A long soliloquy. So, I don’t mind if you’ll ignore it. It’s something I don’t think I’ll be able to say if I don’t say it now.

Aoba:

Mhm.

Koujaku:

Sorry. (he sighs) My mother was a quiet and gentle person. She was so gentle that it made her weak. It’s probably those traits that didn’t make her stick out that caught my father’s attention. She always did as my father told her. When my father’s mood worsened, even though he would shout and strike her, my mother always said that she was at fault. That he was angered because of her flaws. Just like that, she would earnestly endure it. She was someone who would never show resistance. Because she was that sort of person, at that time my father came to love her more than his legal wife. That’s how it is, isn’t it? He could drag her around, punch her, kick her, and she would silently endure it without any complaint. However, when that person, who held the leading role from the start–a person with a demon in her heart–when she saw the state of my mother, enduring it all, her own behavior escalated and she just brought my mother more and more grief. My mother who bore it all patiently, as his wife kept her heart hidden. My mother was bullied nearly every day. Her body was covered in fresh bruises and wounds every day. She couldn’t eat so she only got thinner and thinner. As for my father, my mother wouldn’t let see any of this, and he honestly didn’t pay any attention to her. That man thought that my mother was just his possession. Even still when I would plead and appeal to him, he’d shout “Shut up!” and punch me. When I returned to my mother’s side, after all that my mother would see where my father had struck me and cry. “I’m sorry,” she’d say. She wouldn’t say anything else. I didn’t know what to do anymore. There was nothing I could do.

Aoba:

(makes a soft sound)

Koujaku:

If I opposed my father, my mother would cry, but even still, I couldn’t just stand by and watch as my father and his legal wife beat my mother. But I was just a brat. I couldn’t do anything. No matter how much I wanted to, I didn’t know how. Even still, I thought that there was no other way. Rather than drawing my father or his wife’s anger, I’d rather do something that could bring my mother joy. Well, I was thinking like a kid. The things that I thought of didn’t amount to much. So then, I somehow saved up my allowance and bought a red hairpin. It was the cheapest one. I wanted to give it to my mother as a present.

Aoba:

That was…that hairpin.

Koujaku:

Ah…yeah. This one. I’d never seen my mother as happy as when I gave this to her. It made her eyes sparkle like a young girl’s. Her cheeks even flushed. Her whole face was glowing. “Thank you so much. I’ll treasure it,” she said. That’s when I said it. That I would protect her no matter what. And then my mother smiled again without another word. (he chokes up) After that because my mother’s physical condition was declining we came to Midorijima to deal with her recuperation and to escape my father and the rest. That’s where I met you. Those were happy times, weren’t they? The time I spent on Midorijima really was full of joy. It was so quiet that I thought every difficulty I’d encountered up until then was just a dream. My mother was always smiling. However, after that we were forcibly called home to the mainland. Even though I had gotten along with you especially well, I had to let it go.

Aoba:

When you left…it was really hard.

Koujaku:

Yeah…for me as well. Because I wanted to stay in Midorijima like that forever. In the end, the reason I was called back is because it was decided that I’d be my father’s official heir. That was because his wife couldn’t bear children because of an illness. I absolutely didn’t want to be yakuza, to be my shitty father’s heir. The second my mother heard about it her expression darkened instantly. She’d completely returned to the worn out woman she was before. Of course she would. If we returned to the main house there would just be more ferocious bullying waiting for her. But even still Mother endured it again. “I’ll be fine,” she said and forced herself to smile. We returned to the main house. But after living that peaceful life in Midorijima I didn’t feel like obediently heeding my father’s words. My mother, who returned to the main house with a sorrowful look on her face, had shown me a bright smile when we were in Midorijima. Somehow or another, I wholeheartedly wanted to return to Midorijima. So selfishly, I refused my father, I bit back at him, “I won’t be your heir.” My father was really a filthy man to the core. In order to pin me down after I’d defied him, he raised his hand against my mother. He hurt her and restrained her. “If you don’t do as I say then she’ll suffer even more,” he spat at me, conceited. I thought I’d slowly be killed. But in the end I really was powerless. I was a fool to the end. If I had just thought it through I should have known that opposing my father would turn out this way.

Aoba:

(makes a soft sound)

Koujaku:

With my mother held hostage I couldn’t even think to resist. I did as my father ordered and had my back tattoed. By that bastard Ryuuhou’s hand. It took so many months. When the entire tattoo was completed, my back was so hot I thought I’d die. I was dizzy. I didn’t know what was happening anymore. When I came to, I had rampaged throughout the house and cut people down. Even my mother who had jumped in to try to stop my rampage. I turned my sword on her. When my sanity returned to me, my mother was on the ground, covered in blood. In a panic, I tried to save her, but what did you think she said? “I’m sorry,” she said. Over and over. Even as her voice left her. She apologized to the end. What was she apologizing for? I don’t know. I didn’t want her to apologize to me. The one who should apologize is me. Even though…I said I would protect her…I didn’t protect her at all. That wasn’t protecting her. I cut her down. Weakened by those stab wounds…my mother died. The doctor said that it seemed like she let go of her will to live on her own. Even if that’s true…it’s not enough. I wanted to protect my mother…truly…but, because of my weakness I cut her down. The others as well. Even though the gang at the main house was all my father’s subordinates, there were some of them who noticed our circumstances and showed us compassion. Even still, regardless of who they were, I cut down anyone and everyone. Right now it’s all I can do to apologize. To my mother, to everyone, I’m sorry.

Aoba:

…Koujaku. I remember.

Koujaku:

Ah?

Aoba:

Your mother. I remember her. When I went to your house, she was really nice to me. She was pale, thin, pretty, and always softly smiling. Whenever we met, I remember how she’d tell me “Thank you for playing with Koujaku.”

Koujaku:

(chokes up)

Aoba:

(embraces him) Koujaku. It was all…just you letting the words come out, right? Everything up until now. And everything after this. In that case, I’m just hugging you because I feel like it. Whatever you say or do, right now it doesn’t matter. That’s why…you don’t have to hold back.

Koujaku:

(sobs softly) Idiot. What are you saying?

Aoba:

I’m not listening.

Koujaku:

I won’t give in. I…

Aoba:

(holds him tighter) A long time ago when I couldn’t stop crying…Granny would always hold me like this. You did that for me as well, Koujaku. I felt really relieved. I was happy. It showed me that the warmth of a person’s body can melt a lot of different things.

Koujaku:

I…said I wouldn’t…(he sobs)

Aoba:

Hm?

~interlude~

Koujaku:

I’m home, mom!

Aoba:

I’m hooome!

Koujaku’s Mom:

Welcome home. Aoba-chan’s come along haven’t you?

Koujaku:

Tae-san said it’s okay if Aoba has dinner with us.

Aoba:

It’s okay!

Koujaku’s Mom:

Ah, is that right? Then we have to get it ready.

Koujaku:

Mhm!

Koujaku’s Mom:

Aoba-chan, thank you for always getting along so well with Koujaku.

Aoba:

Playing with Koujaku’s fun!

Koujaku’s Mom:

Ah, I’m happy to hear that. Please take care of him from now on.

Aoba:

Mhm!