Love Hina Fan Fiction ❯ A Fragile Love ❯ Episode 3: The Reason Why ( Chapter 3 )

A Fragile Love

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Episode 3: The Reason Why

Legend:

Word denotes character thought

Word denotes setting, time

-Word- denotes sound effect

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Timeline: June 1, 2000 AD; 4:00 PM, afternoon

Location: Hinata-Sou, Keitaro's room

"Well, go ahead," Keitaro beckoned his aunt seated opposite from him. Haruka furrowed her eyebrows, thinking of a question to start. Taking a sip from her cup of tea, she then began.

 

"Why?"

 

Keitaro seemed puzzled by that question.

 

"Why what?"

 

"I mean, why did you it?"

 

"Haruka-san…"

 

Haruka cut him off.

 

"Please, call me 'Aunt Haruka'. When you call me that, I feel normal talking to you."

 

"Alright… Aunt Haruka."

 

Keitaro took a sip from his tea. He placed it back on the small table and took a deep breath to ease his mind.

 

“I thought you get annoyed when I call you that?"

 

"True, but you look changed. Anyway, 'Aunt Haruka' will suit fine with me."

 

He noticed that she didn't smoke as usual.

 

"Hmm, I usually see you with a cigarette. What happened?"

 

"I decided to cut it down to at least a smoke for a week."

 

"Let me guess, something Seta said to you?" he hinted.

 

"Humph. Well, his advice somewhat turned my head around. It took me a while to get used to it," Haruka replied with a raised eyebrow.

 

"Ha, ha… figures. Okay, sorry to keep you impatient by being concerned over you. I'll get to the point. I decided that I needed some time off from my managerial duties in this dorm. I knew that taking a vacation here in Japan would remind me of everything here."

 

"How did Seta fit into this? Was it true what you said to them downstairs?"

 

"Yes, it's true. But I didn't mention this part what I'm telling you now…”

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Flashback

Legend

Word denotes Seta's speech

Word denotes Keitaro's speech

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I decided to take a trip in memory lane in Toudai. As I walked around, I happened to bump into Seta-san, who was taking a coffee break from his archeology classes. We sat down in the school cafeteria and talked, catching up on some old times. When I told him of my plan of vacation, he thought of something.

 

"Hmm… now that you mention it, I think I have an idea in getting you into a vacation spot. I managed to secure a month's leave from the director of the campus. I told him it was strictly for research of my subject. He allowed it, and so I'm packing up my things from my office after done with my last day of classes.”

 

"Where will you spend your vacation, Seta-san?”

 

"I have an old friend of mine who was my classmate during my college years. He's now curator of a museum in America. Like me, he's studying archeology. He told me he lives in this city called San Francisco, where it's on a state called California.”

 

"You're going to travel there, then?”

 

"Yes. I've saved up a lot of money for this trip. Much of it is left over in my bank account. What do you say?”

 

"Huh? You want me to come along?”

 

"Well, I'm inviting you to join me. Come on, I think it'll do you good to take a change of scenery. Besides, I'm not only going there just for my archeological research. We can get to tour around the city and get used to the American culture there. Well, what do you say?”

 

I found myself considering my options.

 

One, I could find some peaceful, secluded spot here in Japan where I'd need not be bothered by my hectic, awkward managerial work in the dorm.

 

Two, I'd still feel some concern about the girls and could just simply stay over at Shihani and Haitani's place just a few blocks away; I'd keep in touch just in case I'd be needed."

 

Or three, I could take Seta-san's offer.

 

No sooner had I found myself shaking his hand.

 

"Well, that's settled. Get your stuff prepared tomorrow; I'll come by to pick you up early in the morning. Are you sure about your decision? You don't have to go along with me if you don't want.”

 

"No, Seta-san, I stand firm with my decision. What time you'll come?”

 

"Around 6 AM. I'll book you in my flight tonight; I've already made schedule of it. We leave at 8:30 AM.”

 

"But Seta-san, I wish to pay for my ticket.'

 

"Nope, I won't let you. Think of it as compliments from me. Besides, I still have around Y1200000 to be changed to US dollars once we get there for our stay. According to the exchange rate, it's about $9,375.'

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AUTHOR'S NOTE

Suggested exchange rate of Japanese yen to US dollar: Y128 = USD1

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"Y1200000!”

 

"Shh! Not too loud! Let's just say that I was lucky enough to snag a jackpot in the form of buried treasure located in some ruins I found a few months ago. It's true! I had a fellow archaeologist help me around.”

 

"By the sound of your voice, I guess you're not lying.”

 

"Keitaro, you don't want to let the girls know of this then? What about your aunt?”

 

"No, I don't want them to worry about me. Besides, it's just going to be a month that I'll be gone from the dorm. As to Aunt Haruka, I might as well let her know about it, but not in person.”

 

"I understand. Well, look at the time… have to head back for my last period of class. So, I'll see you tomorrow morning as planned then.”

 

We shook hands and left.

 

I prepared my last dinner for the girls and last day of managerial duties here in this dorm. I could never forget my last look at their faces. To me, they're really a second family that I'm glad to have.

 

To make it short, I enjoyed that last day.

 

I stayed late at night writing that farewell letter; I figured that you'd be the one to break the news of my departure to them. I hit the sack after. In the midst of the rising sun, I woke up and showered.

 

Changing into a fresh set of clothes, I packed up my stuff, and left the letter at the kitchen table addressed to you. I then quietly left the dorm and found Seta-san waiting for me outside as planned, I got inside his van and we headed to airport for our trip.

 

Whew… that's all in a nutshell.

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Haruka finished her tea and took out a cigarette from a small pack in her pocket, lighting it. Blowing out a ring of smoke, she stood up and went to the ledge of Keitaro's room. She leaned against the ledge door and looked at the twinkling stars and the moon up in the midst of evening.

 

"I figured it'd be one of your usual runaways where you needed time for yourself. I guess I was wrong once I read your letter. Shinobu gave me a call when I was at the teashop and told me about the letter. I immediately went here and she gave it to me. When they finally saw your room empty, save for the nicely kept futon, and exclaimed about it, I knew what was written in the letter was true. I told them that you disappeared for a vacation according to your request."

 

Keitaro's face clouded with a hint of sadness and remorse.

 

"I see."

 

"Keitaro… honestly, they haven't gotten used to this runaway. They were really concern about you; I've never seen them so affected by it. Before this happened, I felt that you were planning something, and would actually be this! My hunch was right then."

 

Haruka watched him seriously. She resumed finishing her cigarette as she turned facing away from him.

 

"Aunt Haruka… I'm really sorry. Originally the trip was supposed to last for a month there. I'd get used to taking a vacation there and then return home with Seta-san. But… when I spent my last week there, a crazy thought came to my mind. It seemed a good opportunity for me to change some part of myself. That was when a month turned into two years"

 

Keitaro looked away from her and stared at the small frame, carrying a picture of him and the girls, hanged on the wall of his room.

 

"-Sigh- How did they take it?" he asked.

 

"Well… at the first few days they seem fine. But as days turned into weeks, and weeks turned into months, they weren't their usual selves.

 

“Suu was still energetic as ever, but lost her mood in building her inventions. Shinobu still did most of the chores and cooking around here, but lost her enthusiasm. Mitsune was still the same, but drinking less now and then. Motoko practiced her sword skills around the clock, hardly giving herself enough time for a small break. But the two girls who took it quite hard were Mutsumi and Naru."

 

Haruka threw away her cigarette. She turned facing him again.

 

"Those two really missed you the most."

 

"So my departure affected them this much? I thought they'd be glad not to have me around."

 

Keitaro looked down on the floor, guilty.

 

It was only time for me. I needed some space to change, you know?

 

He then realized the tone of his aunt's voice as she recalled the effect of his departure to the girls. When he looked up to her, he was surprised to see a tear running from her eye.

 

"Aunt Haruka? Are… you crying?"

 

Haruka suddenly broke drown emotionally. Her attempt at masking her usual impassive face crumbled. She then embraced him.

 

"-Sniff- -Sniff- You can be so unpredictable at all times… I don't even know if you're not considering me a relative to you. I really miss having you around this dorm and managing it… Keitaro.”

 

She closed her eyes and remained silent.

 

"Aunt Haruka…"

 

Keitaro embraced her back. His face turned passive as he could only comfort and listen to his aunt's sadness.

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On the other hand, six pairs of ears were positioned close to the door, overhearing the entire conversation. The girls had few tears clouding their eyes, with uncertain looks on their faces. Needless to say, all of them were curious. They secretly stopped what they were doing a while back and listened in.

 

"Sempai… have we become such a burden to you? I used to think about it every time while you were here before. But now I'm unsure if you'll stay with us," Shinobu said. She rubbed off her tears with her hands. She felt herself shaking with sadness, and leaned her head against Mitsune's chest.

 

The fox lady put an arm around her and cooed her voice to calm the sensitive girl.

 

"Easy there, kiddo. I'm sure he's not like that. But it appears we didn't give him room for his personal space. It'll be alright," she said.

 

Maybe we pushed him too far?

 

Suu latched herself onto Mutsumi's back, making her carry the energetic girl piggyback style.

 

"What's a 'departure'? Is it something to eat?" she innocently asked.

 

Motoko rolled her eyes over and crossed her arms.

 

"No, Suu, it's not a food. It means that a person left for a reason," she said.

 

I feel… weak. At first I thought of him to be a lowly male who is a lecherous pervert, but after hearing this, I sense that he has matured into the man he wanted to be. Urashima…I'm sorry.

 

"Kei-kun… to think that you really left for good," Mutsumi said quietly to herself.

 

I almost lost my heart and composure since you left that time. This time, I'll make sure my feelings for you.

 

To Naru, a feeling of guilt and regret developed in her.

 

Keitaro… after all the insults and beatings, you still couldn't bear to leave me entirely. I'm sorry for the pain I have caused you. What a fool I've been to not realize what you mean to everybody.

 

She managed to regain her composure and wiped off a few tears from her eyes.

 

"I think that we should leave them alone for the meantime," she quietly said to everyone.

 

They nodded in reply, and dispersed, each resuming what they were doing a while ago.