Haruki Tatsuma agreed to Ahmed's proposal, and after quick, secret arrangements, the three traveled together: Ahmed, the Japanese leader, and worry gnawing at the young man's chest every moment. He did not know that this trip would turn his world upside down.
When they arrived in Sana'a, they were greeted by a man with dignified features, who carried a special aura, Ahmed's father, Muhammad. Ahmed rushed to hug him, and his father initiated with a warm smile, then extended his hand to Haruki, saying with deep respect:
"Welcome, my dear friend."
Ahmed froze in his place, his eyes widening:
"Father...! You know him?!"
The father turned to him and said calmly:
"My son, Ahmed... this is Mr. Haruki, my friend for thirty years. We grew up together, and shared a long life of memories."
Ahmed felt confused, as if the words were not entering his head. "How?! And I thought I didn't even know a Japanese word!" he muttered, almost losing his voice:
"But... I... I don't speak Japanese."
His father laughed lightly and said:
"But you did speak it, my son, since you were a child. I was the one who taught you the Japanese language. You forgot everything over the years, but you used to understand and speak, even if you stammered."
The shock grew heavier, until Ahmed almost felt the ground swaying beneath him. He tried to ask:
"Father... are you... are you... a gang leader?"
Muhammad answered with a bitter calmness:
"Yes, my son."
Ahmed's heart shrank even more, and he took a step back. He walked in silence, while his father and Haruki sat in the car, exchanging laughter and old memories.
Ahmed's distraction was suddenly broken and he asked in a trembling voice:
"Father... do you know... Misaki?"
Muhammad smiled and said:
"Of course, you two used to play together when you were little."
Ahmed put his hand on his head in a daze:
"I... I... used to play with her?!"
The father burst out laughing with Haruki:
"Do you remember, my friend, when Ahmed used to speak Japanese with a funny accent? And do you remember when they used to bathe together as children?"
Ahmed felt his face burn with embarrassment, he stammered, saying:
"I... I... used to bathe with Misaki?!"
The father and Haruki said at the same time:
"We have pictures to prove it."
Ahmed froze in his place, as if he had turned into stone. His eyes were wide, his heart pounding wildly, as if the world had collapsed on his head. He whispered to himself:
"Is this... real?"
Then Haruki added in a calm but deep voice:
"Misaki never forgot you, Ahmed. She remembers you since you were children."
The words were too heavy for his mind to bear. His whole body trembled, and then he felt nothing... as he fell unconscious from the shock.