February 21st.

It's been 3 days since her funeral. I didn't even leave the house for that long. My dad came home yesterday from Thailand and he just sits around giving me worried looks. He tried to talk to me, but I shut him away just like I did to everyone else. I spent most of the day sitting in my room, thinking, regretting that I couldn't be there for her. Not even on the last day of her life. I wanted to hold her tightly and tell her how much I loved her eventhough I'll get rejected because she loves Watari.

"Kousei," my dad said. He was sitting on my bed which I only noticed when he called me.

I pulled my knees closer to my chest. "Hmm?"

"The house is really messy, so can you help me clean it up?" he asked, smiling.

I gave him a nod and got up from the bed. My study table was still lying on the floor with all my books. My dad to the broken photo frame from the floor. "We might wanna get you a new frame."

I left the room and the first thing I did was stand near the front door, looking at the pieces of the letter which was given to me. I started picking it up and I took the pieces to the music room and placed them in a bowl and kept it on the piano. I went back to my room and I saw my dad struggling to lift the table. I helped him with it and went back to the same way I was before, sitting and thinking.

Dad sighed. "I know her death has been a bit hard on you-"

I interrupted. "A bit?" I asked, angrily as I gave him the death glare. "A bit?! You have no idea do you?!" I stood up walking slowly towards him. "Do you have any idea how hard it is to live all alone as a child?! Do you know what it's like to lose everyone and everything you love?! Pardon my language, but can you please get the f#*k out of my life?!!"

He slapped me hardly across my face. His blue eyes were shooting daggers at me. I placed a hand on my cheek. Tears were slided down my cheeks and I began to cry all over again. Not because of the slap but from the realisation of my condition. I felt a pair of arms envelope around me. I hugged my father back, gripping tightly on the back of his shirt as I cried my heart out on his chest.

"I missed you, otto-san(dad)," I said.

His hand stroked my hair. "Me too."

"I miss her so much."

"I know." I heard the doorbell ring a while later and my dad broke the hug. "I'll go check who it is, ok?"

I nodded, wiping my tears. I followed my dad downstairs and I heard a really familiar voice when he opened the door.

"Hello, sir. Can we come in and see Kousei?" a female voice asked.

Tsubaki and Watari.

I pushed my dad aside and I closed the door and locked it twice. "What are you doing?" my dad asked me.

"Don't let them in. Please," I said, walking back to my room. I locked the door of my room so that they can't see me, even if dad lets them in. I plopped myself on the bed and started crying all over again, until I fell asleep.

○●○●○●○●○

I woke up and noticed cracks on my glasses since I slept wearing it. I must've moved a lot in my sleep. My eyes were swollen and nose was running badly. I took a tissue and blew my nose and tossed the tissue on the floor. I went downstairs to the kitchen, poured myself a glass of milk and drank it. Dad was cooking something and it smelled really good. It's been ages since I ate home cooked food.

I looked at the clock and squinted at it because I wasn't wearing my broken glasses.

"It's 8:43," dad said, seeing me struggle.
"Where are your glasses?"

"It broke," I said, yawning.

"Sit down. I made curry."

He placed a plate of rice and curry with a spoon stuck on it, along with side plate with eggs on it in front of me, as I sat in front of the dining table. He also placed them in front of himself and he sat down.

"Ittadakimasu (I shall eat now)," we said, together.

I took the chopsticks and ate a bit of the food. I dropped my chopsticks in shock and tears slided from my face.

"Yes, I made it from her recipe book," dad said, smiling.

I smiled back and I took the chopsticks and ate the whole thing, not leaving a single trace. Man, this brings back a lot of memories. I helped dad wash the dishes and I went to the music room and saw the bowl on the piano. I rumaged my fingers into the bowl and saw a picture of a black cat.

What?

It was a sticker and it reminded me of something. Something important. Something beautiful. Something like....

Kaori.