Chapter 2:
The words hung in the air.
"Your uncle… was found dead in the woods last night."
Ren didn't move.
"Huh…?"
The sound left his mouth, hollow and empty, like it didn't belong to him.
For a moment, everything felt distant the officers, the doorway, even the morning light spilling across the floor. It was as if the world had taken a step back, leaving him behind.
"…what did you just say?"
His voice came out quieter this time.
Officer Nakamura shifted slightly, his expression tightening. "We understand this is sudden. We just need you to.."
"No."
Ren's voice cut through him.
The officers paused.
"No no you're mistaken," Ren said, shaking his head slowly. "That old man… he's fine. Ah that's right… he probably just drank too much and passed out somewhere. That's all."
A weak laugh escaped him.
"Yeah… that's it. You've got the wrong person."
The two officers exchanged another glance this one heavier, more certain.
Officer Takashi stepped forward slightly. "Mr. Ren… we confirmed his identity."
He hesitated briefly before continuing. "He was found in the woods last night… and we found his ID. 'Ben Takahashi.'"
Those words hit Ren like a tidal wave once more.
GBIM.
Ren's fingers tightened against the edge of the door.
"…No."
Silence.
"…No , this time, it was softer, his mind flickered back at his uncle laughing in the hallway, his stupid jokes about his weapon and his perverted thoughts even the way he never took anything seriously…
and then last night.
"You're turning seventeen next week…"
"There's something you'll need to know about our family."
Ren's eyes widened slightly.
His breathing hitched.
That feeling…
That strange, heavy feeling he had when his uncle walked away.
The way he looked, spoke and the way he smiled.
"…I guess I'll see you later."
Ren's chest tightened as tears began to fall from his eyes.
"…you're lying," he whispered.
But this time, there was no confidence behind it.
Officer Nakamura spoke gently. "We found him early this morning. There were… signs of struggle."
Ren's head snapped up.
"Struggle…?"
The word didn't sit right.
His uncle was many things annoying, loud but not someone who would go into the middle of the woods late at night and just… die.
"What do you mean… struggle?" Ren asked, his voice sharper now.
The officers hesitated.
"…We'll explain everything," Officer Takashi said carefully. "But we need you to come with us to the station. We need to take some statements from you."
"NO, ren cut them off immediately i'm not going anywhere with you."
His breathing grew heavier.
"Answer me right here… what do you mean he struggled?"
The officers gave a worried look to each other.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then, slowly, they nodded.
Officer Takashi exhaled and stepped forward.
"It… wasn't a usual struggle," he said. "It almost felt like he was mauled by a wild animal."
"A wild animal?" Ren asked, his voice lower now.
"Yes," Officer Nakamura replied. "Our experts are saying… it's more like a bear."
Ren's eyes stilled.
Sober.
"I see…"
Officer Takashi cleared his throat gently. "Does he have any other family members apart from you?"
Ren shook his head. "No… I'm the only one."
The officers exchanged one last glance.
Then Takashi spoke again, more firmly this time.
"Then… I'm sorry, but you'll have to come with us to the station.
The ride to the station was quiet, to quiet
Ren sat in the back seat of the police car, his eyes fixed on the window. Buildings passed by in a blur, shops opening, people walking along the streets, life moving as if nothing had happened.
His fingers rested on his lap. Tears silently rolled down his cheeks.
The rest of the ride passed in silence.
When they arrived, the station felt colder than expected. The air was heavy, tense, and quiet in a way that made every step feel louder than it should.
Officers moved around, some talking, some typing, some carrying files.
"Come with us," Officer Takashi said gently. "I think you should see your uncle's body."
And ren followed without a word.
Slowly, they arrived at the room where his uncle lay. A makeshift area, almost like a holding cell, covered in white sheets stained dark with blood.
Ren staggered as he opened the door.
He walked slowly inside, tears streaming down his face.
"Ooi uncle Ben, old man… wake up," he called, his voice shaking. "Please… wake up!"
There was no answer.
Frustration and grief boiled over.
"WAKE UP, DAMN IT!"
Wake up.please I'm ready to use my weapon please wake up
The composed, calm Ren of everyday life crumpled as he wept uncontrollably.
Officer Takashi approached quietly, placing a hand gently on his shoulder, but the tears didn't stop.
It was too late. His uncle was already gone.
Two months later.
The house had grown quieter so much quieter. In those two months, Ren had become distant, even to his closest friends. He never got to hear what his uncle wanted to tell him on his seventeenth birthday, and now that opportunity was gone.
Every day since Ben had been buried, Ren visited his grave, carrying a bottle of wine and a pair of condoms small, absurd tokens of his uncle's personality.
He joked with him, told him about his day, about school… and just like that days passed, the same routine repeating over and over.
Days passed. Weeks passed. Months passed.
And just like that, a year had gone by.
But today… today was his eighteenth birthday.
Ren went about his daily routine, getting dressed and ready for school.
Over the past year, he had grown distant from Yuji and Akari. "Distant" was an understatement it was as if they had become strangers.
That evening, he found himself beside the butsudan altar, staring at the pictures of his parents and his uncle. A small cupcake sat in front of him, a tiny candle flickering on top.
He forced a small smile as he lit the candle and blew it out.
"Happy birthday to me," he whispered, his gaze lingering on their photos. "Mother… Father… Uncle… I ...I've… been trying. But it's hard."
He exhaled shakily.
"Oooo… I got a scholarship. I've been admitted into Harvard University in the USA."
He chuckled softly through his tears.
"I know if Uncle Ben were here, he'd say… 'Make sure you use your weapon properly.'"
He laughed again, a little bitter, a little fond.
"Mother… if Uncle is in heaven, don't get angry with him for leaving so soon he raised me to be a man."
Tears fell freely now, and he wiped them away with the back of his hand.
"Oh well… happy birthday to me."
He reached for the cupcake, planning to take a bite.
Ding-ding.
The doorbell rang.
Huh? Who would be here at this time of night?
He walked slowly to the door, still wiping the remnants of tears from his cheeks.
To his surprise, Yuji and Akari stood there, smiling, holding a large cake and a bottle of wine.
"Happy birthday!" they said together.
Ren froze for a moment. Then, finally, he spoke.
"What… what are you doing here?"
Yuji grinned. "Isn't it obvious? We're here to celebrate your birthday with you!"
"Yes," Akari added softly, "we wouldn't miss it for the world."
Ren couldn't find the words. His throat felt tight, his heart heavy.
Sighing, Yuji shook his head. "There you go again spacing out during conversations."
They stepped inside, eyes landing on the small cupcake beside the butsudan altar.
Yuji hesitated. "Um… Ren?"
Ren interrupted him gently. "I'm sorry. I've been distant… even though you've tried to help me. It's just… a lot."
Akari stepped closer, her voice calm and understanding. "It's okay, Ren. We understand. Come on… let's celebrate, in front of your family."
Yuji smiled. "That's right. Come on, let's celebrate together."
Ren wiped the tears from his eyes.
"Yeah," he said softly. "Let's do it."
Ren led them to the living room, the small candle on the cupcake still flickering softly on the altar. Yuji carefully set down the larger cake on the table, and Akari uncorked the bottle of wine, pouring it into three glasses.
For a moment, none of them spoke. The quiet was heavy but comfortable like a shared understanding of everything that had happened.
Yuji cleared his throat first, breaking the silence.
"So I heard ....you really got into Harvard, huh?"
Ren nodded, a small, proud smile forming despite the tears still lingering in his eyes. "Yeah… I guess all those late nights studying finally paid off."
Akari leaned closer. "We're proud of you, Ren. You've worked so hard… and Uncle Ben would be proud too."
Ren looked at her, then at Yuji. He opened his mouth to respond, but nothing came out at first. The lump in his throat made him swallow hard.
"I… I missed you guys," he admitted finally. "I know I've been… gone, distant. I didn't mean to push you away."
Yuji's face softened, and he clapped Ren on the shoulder. "Hey, we get it, man. You've been through a lot. But you're still our friend. Always."
Akari smiled warmly. "No matter what happens, Ren, we'll always be here for you. That hasn't changed."
Ren felt the tightness in his chest begin to loosen slightly. For the first time in months, he felt a sense of normalcy faint, but it was real.
They all laughed softly as Yuji grabbed a slice of cake, his enthusiasm bubbling over. "Come on, Ren! eat something before you start moping again!"
Ren chuckled, shaking his head. "You're impossible."
Akari rolled her eyes playfully. "And yet somehow, we love him for it."
Ren felt a warmth spread through him, a mixture of grief and relief. He poured himself a small glass of wine, raising it slightly. "To… family," he said,
glancing at the altar where his parents and Uncle Ben's photos watched over them.
"To family," Yuji and Akari echoed, clinking their glasses lightly.
For the rest of the evening, they talked, laughed, and shared memories. Yuji recounted ridiculous stories from school, Akari teased him about his serious nature, and Ren found himself slowly opening up, telling them small things he had kept bottled inside for months.
At one point, Ren looked over at the cupcake on the altar and whispered softly, "I miss you, Uncle Ben… I really do."
A quiet understanding filled the room, and he realized that while grief didn't disappear, it could coexist with laughter, friendship, and even hope.
By the time the candle burned low, Ren felt a small, steady warmth inside him a spark of life moving forward.
He smiled, genuinely this time, as he looked at his friends and family in their photos.
"Yeah," he said softly. "Happy birthday… to me."
And for the first time in a long while, he really meant it