So yeah, this opened a flood gate of melancholy I didn’t
even know was there. It’s like, this could have been cute and I have to take it
to a deep, serious place. Um…I hope you like it.
Having grown up in an environment of violence and rough
speech, Sakurai is completely unprepared on how to handle the situation before
him. He’s always kept his emotions pushed deep inside himself since he was a
child, so he has no clue what to do except stare at the girl on her knees, a
box of kittens settled in front of her.
Finally, he asks, “Why are you crying?”
She looks up, startled by his presence and fear flashes
through her eyes when she notices the insignia of his gang, but she sniffles, “My
kitty had kittens and…and my mom won’t let me keep them.” She cries harder,
looking into the box of mewling puff balls. “She said she doesn’t care what
happens to them but I can’t keep them and nobody wants them. I’m not even
asking for any money! I just want to know they’ll be ok!” She collapses back
into sobbing and it wrenches something loose in Sakurai’s psyche.
“I…I’m sorry,” he stammers out and she looks up.
“What?” She rubs her eyes, concerned when the boy who seemed
so strong and stoic (and scary) a moment ago, falls to his knees, eyes flooded with
tears of his own.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry!” He can’t stop repeating the
phrase, apologies he’s held deep in his heart pouring out like the rain from
the sky as he bows to the ground before the box. He’s always felt the
compulsion to do so but held it back for fear of retribution. Showing weakness
isn’t an option in Too but he feels it, feels worthless and helpless and lost
almost every day of his life.
So he apologizes and apologizes until the girl can’t take it
anymore. Grabbing his face, she draws him up to look at her. “Whatever it is,
you’re forgiven.”
For the first time in as far as he can remember, Sakurai smiles.
It’s weak but sincere. Swallowing thickly, he stutters, “I…I’ll take care of
them.”
The hug he receives is the first of his life as well.
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