Ayumi: Kiyomi… I think I'm in love wi—
Kiyomi:(Interrupting) Please don't say that word whenever I'm around.
You might think I'm overreacting, but I'm not.
I can't hear it, see it, write it, or even think it—because that word ruined everything thirteen years ago.
Back then, my mom said she loved me, my sister, and my dad, and that she would never leave us.
But one day… she did.
After a huge fight, she divorced my dad and walked out.
Dad didn't want to raise us alone so he left too.
Ayumi cried and begged him to stay, but he refused.
Ayumi (sobbing): Please, Dad, don't go! Think about my future… think about Kiyomi's future!
Botan (Father): Ayumi, to be honest, I don't see anything in you or Kiyomi's future. You'll both end up just like your mother. Foolish, selfish and deceptive.
Ayumi: Why don't you want to take care of us anymore? Why don't you want to live with us?
Botan: Because I don't want to live with people who will betray me someday. Now GET LOST!
He shoved her and she fell hard, crying out in pain.
I ran to her, panicking.
Kiyomi: Onii-chan [big sister] are you okay?
(Tears blurred my eyes as I looked up at Dad, who was already walking away with his luggage.) Dad… don't you love us anymore?
Botan: I don't love you. And I never will.
And then… he left.
Just like that.
That was the day I promised myself never to fall in love with anyone.
Ever.
From that moment on, the word love became poison—something that shattered families and left people broken. And Ayumi and I were both victims.
Ayumi was left heart-broken, while I was empty.
Our relatives refused to take us in, so Ayumi took responsibility for all the house chores and taking care of me.
We owned the house, so rent wasn't a problem, and we attended a private school on scholarship that covered all our fees.
So our relatives sent us just enough for food and allowance—not too much, not too little.
Somewhere along the line, I picked up the hobby of writing stories. It was my way of releasing everything I couldn't say out loud. And Ayumi always supported me.
Um… where was I again? Yeah, I stopped right here:
Ayumi: Oh, stop being so stone-hearted, Kiyomi.
Kiyomi: I'm serious.
Ayumi: Fine. I won't say the 'L' word but I'll still tell you what happened.
Kiyomi: Fair enough.
Ayumi: I'm falling for a guy, and he asked me out, and I said yes. His name's Aoki. He's got blue eyes and a charming smile.
Kiyomi: Falling for a guy will just hurt you.
Ayumi: Please, stop overreacting. Falling for someone isn't bad. This is Tokyo in the twenty-first century—there are cute guys everywhere. Never mind. You'll understand when you get to high school.
Kiyomi: Don't say I didn't warn you.
She didn't listen.
Six years later, they still hadn't broken up.
Now I'm a second-year high-school student.
Ayumi has graduated from college and works as a receptionist at a company where Aoki also works at, as a staff. They come home together every day.
He eats dinner with us, all the time. And sometimes, he stays for the night or goes home. But it was actually fun having him around, it almost felt like having a big brother who watched over me and cared for me.
Over the years, my stories gained readers. What began as a quiet hobby turned into something others admired.
Then came the day that changed everything.
A storm was coming, and, as usual, I'd forgotten my umbrella. In my rush to get home, I left my story notebook behind.
It wasn't until nightfall, when I sat down to write, that I realized it was missing.
I tore my room apart looking for it—my bag, bookshelf, the living room—nothing.
I checked Ayumi's room, hoping she'd seen it… only to find Aoki lying on her bed and Ayumi on top of him.
Ayumi:(Startled) Kiyomi! It's not what it looks like!
Kiyomi: Where's my book?
Ayumi:(Confused) Your book?
Kiyomi: Yes.
Ayumi: Which one?
Kiyomi: Tears and Pain.
Ayumi: I thought you took that to school.
Kiyomi: Oh no, no, no… this can't be happening.
Ayumi: Did you check your bag?
Kiyomi: Yes.
Ayumi: Your shelf?
Kiyomi: Yes.
Ayumi: Then maybe you left it at school. Check your desk tomorrow.
The next morning, I checked my desk but it was empty, I didn't see it.
I was already fuming in anger, ready to pounce on any of my classmates that took the book.
During recess, though, two of the most popular students in class approached me: Akio—the class hottie—and Hinata, the assistant cheerleading captain.
Akio: Uh… are you Kiyomi?
Kiyomi:(Annoyed) Yes? Is there a problem?
Hinata: Are you the author of this book? (She held up my story notebook.)
Kiyomi: YES! Oh my goodness! I've been looking for that everywhere!
Akio: You left it when you rushed home yesterday. We planned to return it, but… we ended up reading it. We're really sorry, though.
Hinata: It's so good! I need to know what happens next!
Kiyomi:(Surprised) You… liked it?
Akio: It's amazing.
Hinata: Seriously, what happens next?
And that's how the three of us became friends.
We talked during recess, after school, and even walked home together.
Sometimes Hinata and I had sleepovers at each other's houses.
People wondered why Akio and Hinata—two of the most admired students—would be friends with someone like me.
But I didn't care.
Because, for once, I liked having people around.