"I choose Option B..." You softly say.
"Option B... so you choose to return to Tokyo a year from now?"
"Yes... as promised, I want to go back a year from now."
"As you wish... I will send you a year into the future..." The Creator says. "Good luck Y/N"
You open your eyes, looking around the room. You slowly sit up and rub your eyes. You're lying amongst a pile of clothes.
knock knock
"Yes?" You say.
"Are you ready to leave?" Your aunt asks. You quickly look around your room, jumping up to your feet and shoving all your stuff into your bags.
"Yeah! Just about done!" You shout.
"Okay. Great... Makito should be back in about thirty minutes... he will drive you back to Tokyo." Your aunt replies.
"Great... I have thirty minutes." You quietly say as you rush to put everything in your bags.
After you finish packing, you make it down the stairs with your stuff in your hands. Your grandma is sitting on a chair, folding laundry.
"Cousin Yuki... Are you really leaving?" Biyu asks. You look towards Biyu and smile.
"Yeah... I have to go." You pat Biyu's head.
"Awww..." Biyu pouts.
"I will miss you Cousin Yuki." Aya says in a sad tone. You softly smile and hug the both of them.
"Alright... you ready?" Makito asks as he walks in through the front door.
"Mhm." You nod.
"NOOOOO COUSIN YUKI! DON'T LEAVE!" Biyu shouts.
"YEAAAAHHH DON'T LEAVE!" Aya repeats.
"I have to go... I have school in Tokyo..." You softly say, patting both of their heads.
"Will you come back?" Biyu asks.
"Mhm... I'll come back during my time off from school."
"Will that be long from today?" Aya asks.
"So many questions." Makito chuckles.
"Yuki has to go. If you want to speak to her for a bit more... why don't you two help her carry stuff to the car?"
"Okay." Both Aya and Biyu say. They take your bags and carry them outside. Makito sighs and rubs the back of his head. Your aunt approaches you and smiles, rubbing your shoulder.
"I enjoyed having you here, and the twins loved having you here, too."
"I enjoyed being here." You smile.
"Good luck with school." She says in a kind voice.
"Thank you." You turn towards your grandmother and slowly approach her.
"Bye Yuki." She smiles. You lean down to hug her.
"Take care of Hikari and the bakery for me..."
"I'll try."
You walk out to the car and give Biyu and Aya one last hug before getting into the car. Makito gets in and drives off. You stare out the window, watching the trees pass by.
"So... you nervous?" Makito asks.
"Kinda..."
"Mmm... Grandma said that the guy who's staying at the bakery or whatever has done well with the place..."
"I've heard." You nod. You slowly look towards him, leaning back a bit in your seat. "Are you staying in Tokyo for a while?" You ask.
"I'm moving there."
"Oh."
"I've always wanted to live in the city... so this will be very nice to me, honestly."
"Mmm..."
"You look tired." Makito softly says. You sigh and lean against the window.
"You can tell?"
"Yeah, I can." He softly chuckles. "If you're tired, you can sleep the whole ride..."
"I would feel bad."
"Don't worry about it... we have a few hours before we get there. I can listen to music while you sleep."
"Okay." You nod and close your eyes. Makito slowly nods and slightly smiles, then his eyes relax, and the smile disappears when he sees your eyes close. He leans back in the seat a bit, staring out in front of him.
"Yuki." You feel a nudge in your side, causing you to slowly open your eyes.
"Hm?" You look out your window to see the city lights. You're in Tokyo.
"We are five minutes from the bakery... I want to make sure you're awake before we arrive."
"Thank you." You quietly say. You adjust yourself and wipe the slobber off your cheek.
"No problem." He listlessly replies, leaning away from you. You slowly look towards him and then out the window, staring at the people on the streets. When Makito turns a corner, you recognize where you are. Your eyes widen when you notice the bakery up ahead. Makito parks on the side of the building. He gets out of the car and grabs your bags, helping you into the bakery. When you walk in, you notice the place looks very different.
There's a big fish tank on the left side of the wall, and everything is decorated well.
"Yuki!" A voice says from a distance. You look in the direction of the voice to see Hikari. She rushes up towards you and wraps her arms around you.
"Hikari." You smile, hugging her back.
"I'm happy you're back." She soothes. You smile more and nod.
"I'm happy to be back." You notice movement in front of you. Your eyes widen when you see Izana slowly come out from behind the bakery bar.
"Yuki..."
"Izana..."
"Hi." He smiles.
"Hi." You bubble back. Hikari lets go of you and looks towards Izana.
"He was the most excited for you to come back."
"Heheh..." Izana awkwardly laughs. You smile at him and hug him. He hugs you back.
"I'm happy you came back."
"Of course... I promised." You softly reply.
"Well... that's everything." Makito says. "I'm going to go now, you guys be safe." He waves and turns away.
"Wait, little nephew." Hikari says. Makito looks back towards Hikari, who hands him a bag.
"Here's some sweets." She softly says.
"Thanks, Aunt." He smiles and bows a bit. "Talk to you later, Yuki... if you need anything, just call me." He waves as he walks out of the bakery. You slowly turn towards Izana and Hikari, who are looking towards you.
"Are you hungry?" Izana asks.
"A bit."
"Great. I was just making dinner... It's upstairs in the oven." Hikari says. She grabs one of your bags and makes her way up the stairs. Izana takes the other two bags and motions for you to walk in front of him. You follow behind Hikari, upstairs, and into the living room. You look around as the place looks different.
"Did you want to stay here or did you want to stay with me?" Hikari asks.
"What?"
"Izana lives here... and I live in Mom and Dad's old place."
"Oh... you still live there?" You ask.
"Why not?" She asks.
"No reason." You shake your head. Izana places your stuff down by the door and sits down on the couch. You stare at him and then back at Hikari. "I'll stay here for tonight." You softly say. Hikari smirks and then nods.
"Okay then. Let's eat dinner, and then I'll give you guys some alone time~" She teases. You furrow your eyebrows and sigh a bit.
"Lets eat." Izana bubbles.
You, Izana, and Hikari sit at the table in front of warm teriyaki chicken. You smell the food and shiver from the good smell.
"How was your last year of high school?" Hikari asks.
"It was okay... went by long though..."
"Mmm... did you make any new friends?" Hikari asks.
"Kinda... they knew I was from Tokyo and thought that was cool."
"Oh? Did you meet any cute boys there?" She bubbles.
"Mmm..." You take a bite of your food, savoring the flavor. Izana looks at you, waiting for your answer. You look back at him. You shake your head. "I wasn't interested in any of the boys there..." You answer.
"Mm" Hikari nods. Izana looks down at his phone in his hand, typing on it. You furrow your eyebrows and then relax them as you continue to eat.
"Okay, you two... I'll be back Sunday."
"You aren't coming tomorrow?"
"Mmm... no- I'm meeting up with an old friend tomorrow." She smiles.
"An old friend?"
"Mhm... anyways... byeeeee... make sure to use protection." She waves as she walks down the stairs. Izana sighs and closes the door behind Hikari.
"An old friend...? Is Hikari dating someone?" You ask. Izana looks at you and laughs. You look at him, confused.
"You caught on fast." He laughs.
"So she is?"
"Not really... but she's been texting and calling this guy for a while... they're finally meeting up, so it seems nice- actually... I'm happy for her..." He smiles.
"Really?"
"Mhm... you have no idea what I had to endure while you're gone." He sighs.
"I bet." You laugh.
"Oh... and by the way, a few people are coming over..."
"Huh?"
"I texted them a bit after you got here..."
"Who?"
"KNOCK KNOCK!" A voice comes from the door. You furrow your eyebrows, confused about who's at the door. The door slowly opens, and Baji sticks his head out.
"Baji..." You look towards him in shock.
"And me too!" Chifuyu pushes the door open more to walk in. He quickly walks up to you and hugs you tightly. You hug him back.
"I was worried you wouldn't come back." Baji softly says.
"...I promised I would."
"I know... I know..." He nods.
"Wait- I didn't know you three talked." You say.
"Yeah... well, I work part-time here so..." Baji calmly says.
"HUH? REALLY?"
"Mhm..." He nods.
"Same-" Chifuyu chuckles.
"HUH? Wait- who else works here?"
"Uh- Baji and Chifuyu usually does closing... while the Kawata twins work during the day, along with a few others..." Izana replies.
"Kawata twins?" You ask in confusion as you sit down.
"Smiley and Angry." Baji answers.
"Oh- I didn't think they would work here."
"Mm"
"Who else do you talk to?" You ask Izana. He takes a deep breath and then shakes his head.
"That's it... no one else really speaks to me..."
"Especially Draken." Baji adds.
"Huh?"
"Draken hates Izana..." Baji continues.
"Mhm... I don't blame him though..." Izana replies. He sits down on the couch and takes a deep breath. "It's okay though..."
"Wait... why does Draken dislike you that much?" You ask.
"... I assume you didn't hear?" Baji asks. You look at him, confused.
"No... I don't think anyone has told her." Izana answers. Baji sighs and sits down on the couch. Chifuyu sits down beside you.
"Emma passed away last year..." Izana slowly says. Your eyes widen.
"Huh?"
"..." Baji stares down at his hands and then sighs louder.
"Draken said she was doing well, but then one day she flatlined and passed... they believe it was due to lack of oxygen..." Baji answers.
"Oh..." You frown and stare down at the table. "So Draken is blaming Izana for it?" You ask. Baji and Chifuyu nod. "Poor Draken..." You softly say. "What else happened?" You ask.
"Not much... that's about it." Baji replies.
"Is everyone else still around?" You questioned.
"Just about... Draken runs a motorcycle shop, Peh and Pah are doing some business stuff, Hakkai... I don't know what he's doing honestly... and Mitsuya does commissions..."
"Oh." You slowly nod. "That's cool- so everyone is doing their own thing then." You smile.
"Yup." Baji nods.
"I'm also starting college this year." Chifuyu smiles.
"Really?" You smile. "Me too."
"I'm trying to convince Baji to go to college too, but he's being stubborn."
"Cause... I don't want to do any of that..." He huffs and leans back on the couch. You smile and sigh a bit. You stare at the three of them, but then you furrow your eyebrows.
"Wait- what about Mikey?" You ask. Baji stares at you and sighs, pushing himself forward. Izana closes his eyes and relaxes his body, and Chifuyu looks down at the table. You look at Baji, feeling confused by the sudden change in the room.
"Don't worry about Mikey... It's best not to go looking for him."
"Huh? Why?"
"Just trust me... anyway... I should get going... I have work in the morning..." Baji says, standing up and stretching.
"Oh... okay."
"I'm happy to see you again Yuki." Chifuyu bubbles.
"Yeah." You nod and smile.
"Oh, and here's Draken's number... He's been wanting to talk to you... give him a call." Baji says as he hands you a piece of paper.
"Alright... bye." Izana says as Baji and Chifuyu walk down the stairs. You stare at the door as Izana stares down the stairs. Izana closes the door and locks it.
"You okay?" He asks. You stare at him and slowly nod.
"Yeah..."
"Okay... wanna-"
"Imma go take a walk outside... I wanted to go visit the park..."
"Oh... do you want me to come with you?" Izana asks.
"No, it's okay..."
"You sure?"
"Mhm." You smile and nod.
You stand outside staring at the swingset. You take a deep breath and sit down on the swing, pushing yourself on it a bit. There's a lot that you took in. Emma passed away, and there seems to be something going on with Mikey that they don't want to tell you. You pull out your phone from your pocket and the piece of paper that Baji gave you. You dial Draken's number, hoping he'd answer.
"Hello?" Draken says. Your eyes widen. It's been a while since you heard his voice.
"Hi... Draken, it's Yuki."
"Hey... Baji gave you my number?"
"Yeah." You nod.
"So you're back... that's cool... uh- are you busy tonight?"
"No... I'm not."
"Wanna chill for a bit?"
"Sure."
"Great... I'll come get you." He softly says.
"Okay... see you in a bit." You smile. When the phone hangs up, you feel a movement from beside you. You turn your head to see who was there, but no one was there.
"I should probably go..." You say to yourself as you push yourself up from the swing and make your way back to the bakery.