"Kaede, please, let me in. I'm here for you, to support you through this difficult time. You're not alone—I promise we'll get through this together," pleaded Emiko's mother.
Silence followed. No answer came, only the echo of her words resonating in the empty hallway.
With her heart in her throat, Emiko's mother turned the doorknob, but it was locked. Desperation gripped her as she cried out, "Kaede, please, let me in! I need to be with you, to support you right now."
Still, silence persisted. She knocked on the door, desperately seeking a response, but only the echo of her pounding filled the space.
Emiko's mother felt her heart sink deeper into sorrow as she imagined Kaede trapped in her room, completely shattered by the loss. Her inability to enter and comfort Kaede only intensified her anguish and helplessness.
Despite the pain, Emiko's mother did not lose hope. She knelt before the door, resting her forehead against the wood as tears streamed uncontrollably down her face. Her words were choked with sobs as she begged Kaede to let her in and allow her to offer comfort.
Little by little, the silence gave way to muffled sobs from inside the room. Emiko's mother could feel the pain in every one of Kaede's cries.
"Please, leave me alone," Kaede sobbed from inside. Emiko's mother felt her heart shatter at those words.
With her eyes full of tears, she slowly stood up and whispered, "I'm here for you, Kaede. If you need to talk, or just someone to listen, I'll be here. When you're ready, I'll be waiting."
Heartbroken, she stepped away from the door and went to the living room, collapsing on the couch. Tears continued to flow, and her mind was flooded with unanswered questions. She felt powerless, as though she had failed to protect Kaede from this terrible reality. The pain of loss was tangled with guilt and frustration, as she wondered what more she could have done to prevent the tragedy.
Emiko's mother stayed awake all night, tormented by her thoughts and emotions. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Kaede running away from her, again and again. The silence and loneliness in the house only deepened her pain and sadness.
At dawn, she returned to Kaede's room, but the door was still locked, and there was no response when she called her name. Her worry and frustration grew—she didn't know what else she could do to help Kaede face her grief. She sat down on the floor in front of the door, resting her head on her knees, and began to cry quietly.
Hours passed, and at last, she heard a soft sigh from inside the room. She approached the door and heard the lock being undone.
The door slowly opened, revealing Kaede, her eyes swollen, tears still visible on her cheeks. Emiko's mother stepped forward and hugged her tightly, letting them both sink into shared sorrow. There were no words that could erase the pain, but the simple act of being there reminded them they were not alone in their suffering.
Suddenly, the doorbell rang in the distance, breaking the silence that had enveloped the house in grief. The unexpected sound made Emiko's mother's heart leap. Almost by instinct, she wiped away the tears she had been shedding for hours and quickly stood up, walking toward the door with Kaede by her side.
"Who could it be?" Kaede murmured, accompanying her.
Emiko's mother cautiously reached for the doorknob and opened the door, revealing a stern-looking woman.
"Good morning. Is Kaede home?" asked the unfamiliar woman. Curious, Kaede peeked out to see who it was and quickly hid behind Emiko's mother. Seeing Kaede's reaction, Emiko's mother addressed the woman.
"Excuse me, who are you, and why are you looking for Kaede?" she asked.
"I'm Rina Tanaka, ex-wife of Mr. Ryosuke Hirayama and Kaede's biological mother. I've come to take my daughter, Kaede," the woman replied.
Kaede clung tightly to Emiko's mother and whispered, "I don't want to go with her. She's mean to me and always yells at me."
Emiko's mother looked the woman in the eye and asked with determination, "Why is Kaede afraid of you?"
The woman smiled and replied, "Sometimes she misbehaves, and I try to be kind so she won't act out, but sometimes I have to raise my voice to make her behave."
Fury welled up in Emiko's mother. "That's a lie! Kaede has been nothing but well-behaved the entire time she's been here."
The woman laughed mockingly and replied arrogantly, "Dear, you don't really know Kaede. She's a difficult child and needs discipline."
Emiko's mother stepped forward, shielding Kaede behind her. "I don't know who you are, but I don't trust you," she said firmly. "Kaede will not go with you until we know more about who you are and what kind of mother you've been."
The woman flashed a malicious smile and declared triumphantly, "I have custody of Kaede. Her father only had visitation rights one week a month. Now that he's gone, I have every legal right to take her."
Emiko's mother was speechless, shocked by Rina's revelation. But she refused to be intimidated. Her voice grew stronger as she responded, "That may be true, but that doesn't make you the best person to care for her. If Kaede is afraid of you and doesn't feel safe, I can't let you take her."
The woman scowled, angered by the resistance. "You don't understand. She's my daughter, and I have legal custody. If you don't let me take her, I'll call the police. You mean nothing to Kaede."
At that moment, Kaede, distressed by the woman's threat, ran toward her, begging her not to call the police and saying how much she loved Emiko's mother. Kaede promised that if she didn't call the police, she would go with her.
Emiko's mother felt a stab in her heart as she watched Kaede try to protect her. Her voice trembled as she tried to comfort her. "Kaede, sweetheart, I promised to protect you no matter what. You don't have to go with her if you don't feel safe," she said, reaching out her hand.
With tears in her eyes, Kaede pleaded, "No, please, don't go any further. I don't want anything to happen to you."
The woman smiled in triumph and took Kaede's hand, starting to walk away slowly. Emiko's mother felt powerless and devastated, watching Kaede be taken from her, her heart breaking into pieces.
Finally, she collapsed in tears, helplessly watching Kaede leave. Deep down, she knew she had no legal standing to keep her. The sorrow and guilt overwhelmed her—she had failed to keep her promise to protect Kaede.
That night, Emiko was at home, unaware of what had happened with her best friend's father. Joyful, she greeted her mother with a radiant smile.
"Hi Mom, where were you all night?" Emiko asked curiously.
But her mother was completely lost, unsure how to explain that Kaede's father had just passed away. Faced with such a painful truth, she chose to lie.
With a forced expression, she replied, "I was busy with a work meeting, sweetie." Her voice carried sadness, and she avoided eye contact, knowing she was lying to her beloved daughter.
Emiko, unaware of the tension, continued smiling, full of energy. Though the answer didn't fully satisfy her, she trusted her mother completely and sensed nothing more.
That night, Emiko's mother lay in bed, her mind full of questions and conflicting emotions. She felt guilty for not being able to protect Kaede, for failing to keep her promise. She also felt helpless—she didn't know what more she could do.
Sadness filled her heart as she recalled the image of Kaede walking away, hand in hand with that woman.
The next morning, Emiko waited for Kaede at their usual park. It was their favorite meeting spot, where they used to play and spend time together. Her eyes sparkled with excitement as she counted the minutes.
But unexpectedly, Kaede didn't show up.
Emiko tried to stay calm, patiently waiting, hoping her friend would appear any minute. But as the hours passed, worry began to fill her young heart. The sun began to set, and shadows crept over the park.
From a distance, Emiko's mother watched her daughter with sorrow, knowing her little girl was still holding on to the hope that Kaede would come.
Emiko kept her eyes fixed on the park entrance, hoping Kaede would appear with an explanation. Each sound of footsteps made her heart beat faster, but each time she turned her head, disappointment grew.
The park, once full of laughter and play, was now silent and empty. The swings moved on their own, the birds stopped singing, and Kaede's absence became more and more obvious. Loneliness overwhelmed Emiko, who clung to the idea that maybe Kaede had just forgotten.
As time passed, the sky filled with stars and night fell. Emiko, her heart heavy with sorrow, knew it was time to leave. But she couldn't help but give the park one last glance, hoping Kaede would suddenly come running to her.
Finally, Emiko turned to her mother and asked with a trembling voice, "Where's Kaede, Mom? Why didn't she come?"
Her mother took her hand and hugged her tightly. Trying to hide her own sadness, she answered gently, "I don't know, sweetheart. Maybe Kaede couldn't come today. I'm sure she has a good reason. She'll reach out soon."
Emiko nodded, not entirely convinced. She wanted to believe her mother, but the emptiness in her heart kept growing. Together, they walked home in silence.
That night, Emiko couldn't sleep. Her mind was full of questions and worries about Kaede. She wondered how she was, if she was okay, and why she hadn't shown up.
The next day, Emiko couldn't help but ask her mother again about Kaede. She needed answers. Her mother sighed and prepared herself for the questions.
"Emiko, sweetheart, Kaede is going through a hard time. Her parents had a problem recently, and now some things are changing in her life," she said softly.
Emiko was surprised. She had no idea Kaede was going through something so painful. Her heart filled with compassion and concern.
"Is she okay? Where is she living now? Why can't I see her?" Emiko asked quickly, unable to hold back.
Her mother sat beside her and hugged her, trying to offer comfort through her words. "Kaede is staying with her mother for now, but I can't tell you exactly where. You have to understand, Emiko, Kaede is going through a lot of changes and needs time and space."
Emiko nodded sadly, understanding that this wasn't the right time to push for more. Still, the emptiness of Kaede's absence lingered in her heart.
Days went by, and Emiko clung to the hope of seeing Kaede again. Every time the doorbell rang, she ran to the door with the expectation that it might be her friend. But time after time, her disappointment grew as she found other people standing before her.
Time became a cruel enemy for Emiko. Life without Kaede turned agonizing and increasingly painful. Sadness clouded her gaze, and laughter vanished from her home. The memories of the happy moments shared with her friend became more painful, and Emiko began to wonder if she would ever see Kaede again.
Alone in her room, Emiko held tightly to a photo of the two of them at the park, wishing with all her heart that time could stop and things could go back to the way they were. Even though her heart was filled with sadness and worry, she still hoped for the day Kaede would return to her life.
Years passed, and Emiko, now a fifteen-year-old teenager, was heading to high school, ready to face her first day of classes. As she walked along the path, her mind drifted into memories of her dearest friend, Kaede.
Despite all the time that had gone by, Emiko couldn't help but wonder how Kaede was doing now—if she had managed to overcome the problems that once burdened them both. Since the last time they saw each other, Emiko had struggled to make new friends due to her shyness, which had returned after Kaede's departure.
Finally, Emiko arrived at school and sat in the classroom, lost in thought as she gazed distractedly out the window. Meanwhile, the students began to file in, taking their seats and chatting excitedly among themselves. Emiko felt like an outsider, wishing more than anything that Kaede were there with her.
Suddenly, the teacher walked into the room and introduced himself as their new homeroom teacher. Emiko barely paid attention to his words—her mind was still wandering in the memories of her friend. As the teacher spoke, he informed the students that a new classmate would be joining them, which sparked curiosity and murmurs among the class.
Then, the classroom door opened, and a girl with glasses and dark hair tied up walked in, smiling as she introduced herself.
"Hello everyone, my name is Kaede Hirayama. I'm new to the school, and I'm excited to meet you all," the girl said with a cheerful smile as she bowed politely.
A deafening noise exploded in Emiko's mind as she heard the name of her best friend. She couldn't believe what her ears had just heard. Could it really be Kaede, her childhood friend, now standing in front of her as the new classmate? She was speechless, her eyes wide, and her heart pounding. Everything around her seemed to slow down, and her mind filled with confusion. She couldn't process the idea that her friend was there—in the same room—after all this time apart.
The teacher directed the girl to an empty seat beside Emiko, who still couldn't utter a single word. The rest of the class faded into the background; she could only focus on Kaede. She didn't know what to do or say—she remained completely still, unable to react. The girl looked at her with a big smile and greeted her. Emiko, her voice shaking, barely managed to respond: "H-hi."
The girl smiled again, unaware of the confusion swirling in Emiko's mind. Throughout the entire class, Emiko couldn't stop glancing at her, wondering if she was truly her childhood friend. She also wondered why, when the girl greeted her, she didn't seem to recognize her.
During recess, Emiko sat alone, watching Kaede from afar as she chatted and laughed with a group of girls. A strange ache filled Emiko's heart as she watched Kaede blend in so easily, making new friends. She wondered why Kaede didn't recognize her and why it seemed like she had completely forgotten their friendship. Emiko felt invisible, longing to approach her, talk to her, and remember the joyful moments they had once shared.
But her doubts and fears held her back. Her shyness returned, paralyzing her and preventing her from reaching out to Kaede and revealing who she was. She silently scolded herself for not having the courage to take that step.
Time passed, and Emiko continued to watch Kaede from a distance, wishing with all her heart that she could recover the friendship they had lost. As the days went on, Emiko began to notice small signs of familiarity in Kaede's expressions and gestures. It was as if, somewhere deep in her memory, Kaede still held a faint trace of the bond they once shared.