Chapter 84: THE SEARCH BEGINS
The morning sun had already climbed above the buildings, painting the city in a warm golden light.
Aiko stood on the balcony of her apartment, holding her phone against her ear while watching the cars move below.
Her husband was on the other end of the call.
For once, neither of them was arguing.
"Can't you just go home, hon?"
Aiko sighed.
"I'm sorry."
"You've been gone longer than you planned."
"I know."
"You said you'd only be away for a little while."
"I know."
There was a brief silence.
Aiko looked toward the suitcase sitting beside her.
She had already packed most of her things.
Her husband noticed her silence.
"Then come home."
Aiko smiled faintly.
"I'll come after my sister's wedding."
"You're really staying until then?"
"Yeah."
"You could at least come back for a few days and return."
Aiko shook her head.
"I can't."
Her voice became softer.
"I promised Noriko."
Her husband sighed.
"Alright."
There was a pause.
Then his voice became gentler.
"Just be careful."
Aiko smiled.
"I will."
"And..."
He hesitated.
"I love you."
Aiko's smile became genuine.
"I love you too."
The call ended.
Aiko lowered the phone.
For several seconds, she continued smiling.
Then—
The smile disappeared.
Her eyes fell toward the suitcase.
She leaned against the balcony railing.
"Fuck, Kenji."
Her voice was barely above a whisper.
"Why did everything have to become this complicated?"
She closed her eyes.
Memories from years ago slowly returned.
She remembered herself when she was younger.
Ambitious.
Impatient.
Desperate to become successful.
Desperate to have a life where nobody could tell her what to do.
She remembered thinking that having a child would ruin everything.
She remembered the fear.
The confusion.
The arguments.
And the thought she was too ashamed to admit out loud.
"I thought about getting rid of you."
Her lips trembled.
Aiko wiped her cheek.
"But I couldn't."
She stared at her reflection in the glass door.
"I couldn't take the life of someone who hadn't done anything wrong."
Her voice cracked.
"So I ran."
She laughed bitterly.
"What a brave mother I was."
Another tear rolled down.
"I wasn't there for your first birthday."
"I wasn't there for your first step."
"I wasn't there when you learned how to talk."
"I wasn't there when you went to school."
She covered her mouth.
"I wasn't there for anything."
Aiko slowly sat on the balcony chair.
"I chose money."
"I chose my career."
"I chose myself."
She looked down at her hands.
"And now..."
Her voice became quieter.
"I don't even know if you'll recognize me."
She laughed sadly.
"Maybe you'll hate me."
She looked toward the sky.
"Maybe that's what I deserve."
Aiko wiped her tears again.
"But if we ever meet..."
She took a shaky breath.
"I hope you give me a chance."
Her phone suddenly rang.
Aiko jumped.
She looked at the screen.
Unknown number.
"Who the hell..."
She answered.
"Hello?"
A man's voice came from the other end.
"I saw him."
Aiko froze.
"What?"
"I saw him."
Her breathing stopped.
"Are you sure?"
"I'm sure."
Aiko stood.
"Where?"
"I sent the pictures."
Her phone vibrated.
A message arrived.
Aiko opened it.
Several photographs appeared.
She stared at them.
Her eyes widened.
Her fingers began trembling.
She didn't say anything.
The man continued.
"Did you get them?"
Aiko swallowed.
"Where is he?"
There was a pause.
Then—
"That asshole came back to Japan."
Aiko's eyes widened further.
"Japan?"
"Yeah."
"You're certain?"
"One hundred percent."
Aiko gripped the balcony railing.
"Fuck..."
She looked at the photographs again.
"I thought..."
She stopped herself.
No.
There was no time to think.
She had spent years running away.
Not anymore.
"Where exactly?"
"I'll send you what I know."
"Thanks."
The man chuckled.
"Sure."
Then his voice became playful.
"You owe me one."
Aiko rolled her eyes.
"Yeah, yeah."
The call ended.
She immediately opened her laptop.
Flights.
Japan.
She searched through everything.
Her hands moved faster than her thoughts.
"I found you..."
She whispered.
Her eyes became wet.
"I finally found you."
She looked at the photograph again.
"I don't care what happens."
Aiko stood.
"I'm coming."
---
Several hours later, another phone rang.
Noriko was sitting on the edge of her bed.
She had barely recovered from the previous day's emotional exhaustion.
She looked at the caller ID.
"Aiko?"
She answered.
"What's up?"
Aiko didn't immediately respond.
Instead—
"I'm really, really, really sorry."
Noriko blinked.
"Why?"
"I..."
Aiko took a deep breath.
"I don't think I can attend your wedding."
Noriko immediately sat upright.
"What?"
"I'm sorry."
"No."
Noriko shook her head.
"No, no, no."
"Aiko—"
"You're the only person I'll need there."
Her voice cracked.
"I mean it."
Aiko closed her eyes.
"I'm sorry."
"Why?"
Aiko hesitated.
Then finally said—
"I found him."
Noriko stopped breathing for a second.
"Really?"
"Yeah."
"The guy..."
Noriko's voice became quieter.
"The guy you left your son with?"
"Yeah."
Noriko stared at the floor.
Her expression changed.
The sister who had been joking a moment ago disappeared.
She became serious.
"I'll never forgive you."
Aiko's heart sank.
"I know."
Noriko continued.
"If you can't find my nephew."
Aiko blinked.
"What?"
"You heard me."
Noriko crossed her arms.
"If you find him, maybe I'll forgive you."
Aiko let out a nervous laugh.
"You scared the hell out of me."
"Good."
"You've become scary."
"You deserve it."
Aiko smiled.
"Yeah."
For a few seconds, neither spoke.
Then Noriko sighed.
"Are you scared?"
Aiko looked toward her suitcase.
"Terrified."
"Why?"
"What if he hates me?"
Noriko thought for a moment.
"Then he'll hate you."
Aiko stared at the phone.
"That was supposed to comfort me?"
"No."
Noriko smiled slightly.
"I'm just being honest."
Aiko laughed.
"You're terrible."
"But..."
Noriko's voice softened.
"You can still try."
Aiko became quiet.
"You really think so?"
"Of course."
Noriko looked toward the window.
"Kids aren't born hating people."
She paused.
"They learn to."
Aiko's eyes became wet.
"So don't give him a reason to hate you."
Aiko smiled.
"That's actually good advice."
"I know."
"You're becoming wise."
"Don't ruin it."
Both laughed.
Then Aiko's expression became serious again.
"I'm going to find him."
"I know."
"I'm going to introduce you to him."
Noriko smiled.
"I want to meet him."
"You will."
"And Aiko?"
"Yeah?"
"Don't run away this time."
Aiko closed her eyes.
"I won't."
The call ended.
Noriko placed her phone beside her.
She looked at the ceiling.
Her heart was strangely heavy.
Aiko had spent years searching.
And now—
The person she was searching for was somewhere in Japan.
Noriko whispered,
"I hope you find him."
---
Meanwhile, somewhere across the ocean—
A man stepped out of an airport.
He carried a small bag over his shoulder.
He stopped beneath the airport lights and looked around.
Japan.
He hadn't been here in a long time.
His phone vibrated.
He looked at the screen.
Several missed calls.
He frowned.
"Seriously?"
He ignored them.
He placed the phone back inside his pocket.
A taxi pulled over.
The man opened the door.
"Where to?"
He gave the driver an address.
The taxi began moving.
He leaned against the window.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"Let's see..."
He stared at the passing city.
I'm gonna wait for you max I knew you'll come back
The taxi disappeared into the night.
Far away from him—
Kota was sleeping peacefully.
Completely unaware that people from his past were beginning to move toward him.
And completely unaware that one of them had been searching for him for years.
The search had finally begun.
CHAPTER ENDS