Chapter 11
“Asha, we should quit bugging Haru so much,” Hikaru warns her as they walk to Haru’s hideout. “It’s a miracle that he let us visit him yesterday and the day before. He’s going to get irritated with us.”
“Don’t be silly, Hikaru-san,” Asha says. “Haru-san may not admit it, but he’s always happy to see us.”
Hikaru frowns. “Asha, the kid likes his privacy,” he says. “And besides, he thinks that if we keep hanging around him, he’s putting us in danger.”
“I know you’re right,” Asha says, “but I don’t want to leave him by himself.”
Hikaru sighs.
Finally, they arrive at the old building and knock on the door. “Haru-san!” Asha calls. “Are you there?” After a few minutes, Haru comes to the door and swings it open.“Good morning!” Asha greets him.
Haru gives her a little smile. “Hi,” he says.
They follow him inside the building. “Haru-san, have you eaten breakfast yet?” Asha asks.
“Yeah, why?” Haru asks.
“We were wondering if you could go hiking with us.”
“Hiking?” Haru asks. “Where?”
“There’s a big ol’ bunch of wooded hills outside of the city,” Hikaru explains. “It’s pretty much deserted, so we figure we could go there without drawing any attention to you.”
Haru looks a little surprised. “What for?” he asks.
“C’mon, Haru!” Hikaru cries. “Don’t tell me you don’t have time for fun anymore!”
“Hikaru–!”
“You’re so paranoid! Loosen up a little!”
“Hikaru-san is right,” Asha chimes in. “We’re okay for now, so we should have some fun!”
Haru sighs. “Alright, alright. Just let me finish up here.” He fills a little bowl with food for his kitten and ties on his headband, then joins his friends at the door.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
There is not even a cloud in the sky as the trio makes its way up the forested hill. “Ah, fresh air! I love hiking!” Hikaru says happily.
Asha glances around expectantly, hoping to catch a glimpse of a wild animal. “Hush, Hikaru-san!” she tells him. “If there’s any deer out here, you’ll scare them away.”
“Me? Scare off deer?” Hikaru exclaims. “Nah!”
“You’re so noisy!” Asha says.
Hikaru cups his hands around his mouth and calls out, “Hello!!!” then listens to it echo.
“Hikaru-san!” Asha cries.
Hikaru laughs. “I’m sorry. I couldn’t resist.”
“That wasn’t very nice!”
“What?! Doesn’t every kid like echoes?”
“Hikaru-san, the animals!!! You’ve probably scared them all away!”
Haru can’t help a snicker. “Well would you look at that!” Hikaru says. “We finally got him to crack a smile!”
Asha sees Haru smiling and grins. “You have a nice smile, Haru-san!” she says. “You should smile more often.”
Haru blushes. Hikaru laughs to himself. He's so shy! he thinks. Getting all flustered just ‘cause Asha likes his smile!
When they get to the top of the hill, the three kids look out across the landscape. “Wow! For a hill, this sure is high!” Hikaru cries.
“I think I might see my house from here!” Asha exclaims. Haru smiles as he watches Asha look out across the city. “I wonder...if my parents are worried...” Asha murmurs.
Haru’s smile fades. “Did you even...tell them goodbye?” he asks.
The question startles Asha. She turns to face him. “I...I just gave them a note,” she replies. A lonely look comes into Haru’s eyes.
“How ‘bout we start heading back, now?” Hikaru asks. “I’m gettin’ hungry!”
“Me, too!” Asha says, trying to lighten the mood. “Let’s go back!”
Haru’s expression becomes gloomy. Go back to what? He thinks.
“Haru-san...?” Asha asks. “Are you okay?”
He nods. “You’re right. It’s lunchtime. Let’s go eat,” he says. He starts off before his friends. Asha glances back at Hikaru as if to ask, Did we say something wrong?
Hikaru’s expression turns serious. He gestures to follow Haru and falls into step with her. “It’s best not to ask anything of him when he’s like this,” Hikaru whispers to her.
“Did we upset him?” Asha whispers back.
Hikaru shrugs.
“Where are we going to eat?” Asha asks.
“We can stop at the burger joint outside of town,” Hikaru suggests.
When they get down to the foot of the hill, Hikaru and Asha start walking one way while Haru turns in the opposite direction. “Haru-san, aren’t you coming with us?” Asha asks.
“I can’t,” he answers without even turning to face her.
“Why?”
Hikaru nudges her and shakes his head. “I guess we’ll see you later, then,” he says.
Haru nods. “Bye, guys.”
As he is walking away, something drops out of his pocket. Asha rushes to pick it up. “Wait!” she calls. “Haru-san! You dropped this!” He stops and turns around. Asha glances at the photograph before she hands it back to him.
“Thanks,” Haru says.
“Who is that with you in the picture?” Asha asks as Haru turns to walk away again. “Is it your mom? She’s very pretty.”
“No,” Haru replies, “she’s...”
“Who is she?” Asha prompts.
Hikaru walks up to her. “Asha, you shouldn’t–!”
Some of the images from Haru’s nightmares replay in his head. But he can’t seem to recall how the woman is related to him. “I– I don’t remember,” he murmurs.
“You don’t?” Asha asks.
“I don’t...remember her...” he repeats.
Asha is surprised. How could he forget someone he knew well enough to keep a picture of? she wonders. She sees Haru flip the picture over in his hand. There is something scribbled on the back. “What is that?” Asha asks.
Haru puts the photo back in his pocket. He glances over his shoulder at Asha and says, “You have no idea how good you’ve got it, Asha.”
“W–What do you mean?” she asks. “Haru-san, are–?”
“Thanks for giving it back,” Haru says. “I’ve gotta go now.” He rushes off without so much as a second glance back at his friends.
“That was weird...” Asha says.
“It’s like that a lot when you’re dealing with him,” Hikaru says.
“What did he mean...when he said “you don’t know how good you’ve got it”?”
Hikaru looks pensive. “You’ve got a whole lot of things that he doesn’t, Asha. Unlike you, he doesn’t have parents who care about him or a place he can call home. He doesn’t even have his memories to remind him of what he had...”
“Hikaru-san...”
“What do you say we go eat lunch?” Hikaru asks. Asha blinks up at him in confusion. Hikaru smiles. “I thought you said you were hungry. Well, let’s go! I’m starving!” Hikaru and Asha head back past the boundary of town to the restaurant to eat lunch.
