I guess they calmed down after eating the rice cakes, and I was glad to hear that their plan to raid my room had been scrapped. I went to the bathroom and went back to my room secretly.
Too much stimulation since New Year's. My mind is so exhausted that I feel as if I could fall asleep in an instant like Nobita, and my eyelids are already heavy.
I lay there for a while, and my sense of time was beginning to fade away, when there was a knock at the door.
I get up quickly and think calmly. Who among the Sakakimagi family members knocks when entering my room?
Ugin Sakakiki. Yes, this guy is impossible. He gets angry when I enter without knocking. I'd like to have an argument in the International Court of Justice about why he's so strict with me and so tolerant with himself.
Mother. It's possible. My mother, one of the sensible members of the Sakakimagi family, would surely knock. Or rather, she would.
Father. Impossible. He'd never come to my room in the first place.

Come in.

Alina appeared at the door.

What? What the hell are you doing here? Are you a hitman?
'Heh ...... this is your room ......'
'Hey, hey, hey, hey. You shouldn't go in there. There's been an accident. Seven office workers committed charcoal poisoning in this room.
'How can you live in a room like that?
'The downside of this room is that sometimes I get strangled. By the way, when you're strangled, it disappears when you squat. Like dry ice.
'Yes, yes.'

Boom. Clang.
It sounded very ominous. I knew there was an internal lock on the door, but I had never used it. The key itself must have been unexpectedly used by someone other than a family member. What is this? Am I going to die?
Immediately, he reached for the desk and grabbed the gun. Wrong, the pencil case. The story is like a president cornered by an assassin. His last resistance ends in vain, and the gun, now silenced, pushes. Blood leaks from the ruptured heart and fills the lungs. Cold fingertips. Sternum creaking. The end. The end rolls. Please pick up your trash and leave the theater.

'Wait, don't kill me. I'm not ready.
''So.''
'd*mn you. Will you at least listen to me? I'm sorry. I didn't have a choice!
''So''
'You cold-blooded devil. I'll draw the border with your blue blood!
''So.''

Oh, no. Apparently, that's it.

So much for tomfoolery.
I'm sure she came to my room partly out of curiosity, but even I could tell that's not what she really wanted. The look she gave me at the station. And here's where the foreshadowing begins.
I asked her to sit on a chair. She obediently sat down and got down on the desk. I sat down on the bed and turned my head to serious mode.

Thirty days.
''Hmm?''
'Your father came to our house on December 30. ......'
'What? Dad is Alina's, you know, .......'
'He's a divorced dad.'

Divorced father.
The one who abused Alina.
Immediately my chest tightened, and a small rage welled up inside me. I knew I was becoming emotionally sensitive.

'...... are you all right?'
'Yes. But ...... was scary. I've forgotten the memory of the assault, but my body remembers. I couldn't stop shaking.
'Are you sure you were okay? Did they do anything to you?
'I'm fine. You're overreacting.
'If I knew what you were going through, I'd be worried.
'You're surprisingly kind. I thought you were one of those people who wanted to see the end of the human race.
'I'm not a troubled adolescent boy.'

She giggled. She turned her face to me and our eyes met for a moment. I quickly averted my eyes, feeling awkward. How naive my heart is!

Dad wants to get back together. He said so.
'Seriously?'
Yeah.''

It's not like he's an adult to want to get back together with Alina after hurting her so much. Does he think his wife and daughter will accept it? If so, he is a very self-centered, insane fool. I am a father of another man, but I cannot defend him.


Alina stared at me in silence. I didn't know what she was going to say, but her eyes made me open my mouth, as if she wanted me to continue the conversation.

'What do you and your mother think about ......?
'Of course, I'm against it. 'Of course not, I'm against it.
'You were in prison. ......'
'Yes. He said he's reformed, but I don't believe him. He left just before your mother called the police. I'm afraid it might not be the only time.
'Hey, hey, hey, are you sure you're okay?
'For now. But maybe I'll turn to you. I know it's not easy, but you're the only man I can rely on. ......'
'What, what's with this romantic-comedy development? I'm so excited.'
'I'm going to hang you.'

Of course, if Alina asks for help, we will do our best to support her. Even if it means a confrontation with Alina's father, I can swear to protect them. I chuckled to myself at the sound of his self-absorption.

Alina got up from her chair. She looked around my room and put her hand on the bookshelf. She pulled out a middle school album.

'May I see it?
'Gnuh. Embarrassing.
'I've lived a life of shame, it's too late for that.'
'Dazai Osamu, huh?

And Alina sat down next to me. In bed. About three fists apart. The smell of the thing was so strong. I felt immoral and held my breath. I held my breath because I knew it would be a crime to smoke. I don't know why. It's amazing, girl. Why does it smell so good?

'What are you so nervous about?
'This is scary.'
'Huh?'

I shriveled up when he challenged and intimidated me. If I puffed out my chest, I would inhale more of Alina's scent.
She opened the album and began to flip through the pages. Apparently, she wants to look at it with me. It's really a very stimulating day in the new year.

'Oh, this is you,' she says.

It's a page of class portraits. I remember being instructed to laugh during the photo shoot and everyone joking around. I was extremely nervous and ended up laughing so hard that my awkward expression was permanently preserved. I want to break this smile.

'You still look like a joke.
'I'm going to get hurt too, aren't I?'
Oh, this is Hakuna. She's still as charming as ever. See?
Don't ask me to agree with you.
I'll tell Shirana.
'...... I think it's very lovely.'
'Boring man. You should have been more wacky in your replies.'
'Sorry ......'

He rolls them up one by one, silently. I wonder if it is interesting to look at the albums of other junior high schools. Personally, I am interested in Alina's beautiful JC days. Oh, I see. So you are interested in the albums of people you know.
When he finished flipping through the album, he closed it and handed it to me.

'I envy you.
'Ho?'
'Because I don't know much about albums.'
'Oh ......, then I'm looking forward to your next album.'
'?
'I'm talking about our album.
'......, yes.'

Silence enveloped the place. It was awkward, but not tense.
She swung her legs like a swing and seemed at ease. I couldn't help but admire her beautiful profile. The way her long eyelashes slowly brushed the air was very seductive.

With a clank, the doorknob moved.

Clang, clang, clang. .......

Oh no! This roughness is Ugin! I mean, why did you lock the door?
'Because it was a confidential conversation.
'I'm sure it was effective against Ugin who came in without knocking. But you know what? It's publicly illegal for high school boys and girls to lock themselves in their rooms. Do you understand?
'I wonder if that's true.'
'It's too late to be a natural character now. ......'

Rumble .......

'Niichan. Niichan. Why are you locking the door?

The voice of the devil through the door.
Shivering souls.
Sweaty hands.
A locked room with no escape.
The ticking of the hands.
The doorknob shaking.


The head that rings with a thud .

'Alina. Well, what's your excuse for coming to my room?
'Uh, bathroom.
'It's been too long!
You pervert.
'Whatever you say!

I can't do this anymore. Let's just unlock the door. What's the excuse?

'I'm gonna hide in your closet and you're gonna go ahead and get out. I'll tell them I was just fixing a mess and it took me a while.'
'Wow. The smart ones are always cool! Let's go with that.

Just as Alina opens the closet and pushes herself in, she approaches the door, deliberately saying in a loud voice, "I'm going to open the door, so don't make a mess. Alina nodded to me, and she closed the closet and I unlocked the door.
I met Ugin, a human being with zero morals.

'You're making too much noise. Knock.
'Why did you lock the door? Is Alina there?''
'I'm not here. I locked the door because I knew you guys would try to prank me in my sleep like you did earlier.'
'Hmm. I thought you and Alina were doing something alone.
'If that's what you thought, knock even harder. ......'
Well, never mind. Tsuru-san said he's going home soon. Alina-san is still in the bathroom.
'That's a long time! Aren't you the big one? Gahaha'.

There was a clank in the room.

'You're such an a**h*le, brother. Don't treat a girl like that. Why are you still alive?
'It's for your own good, Ugin.
'Love is heavy'.

My reputation was damaged, but it was worth it, and Ugin went down the stairs. I said to my room, 'That's enough,' and followed him.
Tsuru and my mother were chatting at the door. They were waiting for Alina.
Alina returned soon after.

I'm sorry. I messed up my dress and had to fix it.
'Oh, I didn't know. Here we go.'

Mother approached her and began to carefully adjust the dress on her midriff.

Don't look at me.
'Sorry ......'
Don't look!

The moment Alina showed her shame, Ugin tackled her with a yell. She was blown up and crashed into a wall. A gurgling sound came from her shoulder. Or maybe it was a "bling. It hurt anyway. My right shoulder and left shoulder are now attached to each other.

Thank you very much.
No. Come again, both of you.

Oh, you're coming back. Please don't do that, Mother.

Yes! Thank you! Tsuru replies cheerfully.

No way. I'm going to die.

I'm going to die. Thank you for your time.
'Sorry to bother you.
'Yes, nice to meet you. Come on, big brother. Say it right.
'Ko, thank you for your support this year. ......'

After bowing, they finally left our house. The door was closed to break the lingering silence. At the same time, I let the air out of my lungs and relaxed.

Oh, my God!
'Mom, they were so cute, I was so surprised.
'He's popular at school (as a problem child).'
'So, which is it?'
''Yes?''
'Which one are you, Tsuru or Alina?'
'Ugi-chan, help me. Your mother is in disarray.
'Oh no. I'm going to bed.

I spent the next thirty minutes clearing up my mother's misunderstanding. It was hard for me to watch my mother, who was about to enter her second half of the century, talk about her love life, and I almost gave up several times, but I did my best to avoid any further loss of honor.
When I was released and returned to my room, I found a magazine in the middle of the room, covered with skin color, in the magazine corner of a convenience store.
Yes, an erotic book. The reason why I have it is that I bought it as a joke with my friends in junior high school. The negative legacy of this book was kept in a closet, I believe. Why did this pornographic book come out of the closet and try to be seen by human eyes again? I don't dare to say it, but you know what I mean.
I received a message from Alina.

Die.

Strong imperative. Whether he meant what I said in jest about the 'big one' or this pornographic book is a moot point. The god who doesn't touch me is cursed.

I was worried about Alina.


It is hard to believe that such a fragile father and son could resist a big man. If the father were to attempt to kidnap them for Alina, he would be easily manipulated into doing what he wants. It is not even certain that they will be safely protected. There are about 80,000 missing persons every year, and not all of them come back.
I prayed that nothing would ever happen to him. If only I could see their faces every day, I would know a sign or two.

I wish the winter vacation would end soon.