Sora & Fumiko

Chapter Forty-Five

"Fumiko! I can't believe you're leaving already!"

"I know, but I have to get back today."

Mrs. Saito threw her hands on my shoulder and gave me a warm hug.

"Oh, it's been over a year since I last saw you and now you're leaving. Are you sure you can't stay any longer?"

I looked over at Sora, his gaze was turned away from me as he held one of my bags.

"If I could, I would definitely stay."

Mrs. Saito smiled and looked at Sora then back to me.

"He loves you very much, I'm sure you're aware of that?"

Pain clawed away at my heart but I nodded in compliance.

"Do your parents know about your relationship with him?"

I shook my head.

"I'm not sure."

"Are you planning on telling them?"

"I don't know how-"

"Fumiko, I'm glad I caught up to you before you left!" Mr. Saito called while walking up to me and ruffling my hair.

I chuckled a little, the only time I laughed at all that morning.

"I'm going to miss you a lot Fumiko." He told me nonchalantly.

"Don't worry, you're not the only one." Mrs. Saito joked while nudging him in the side and pointing to Sora.

"Haruka!"

As much as I wanted to laugh and joke about with them, I was tearing apart inside.

My world was falling apart all over again.

"Fumiko?" Sora called from over the porch where he was standing.

His hands tensed and clenched onto the handles of my bags because he was going to help me carry them.

"Yes."

"We should leave now."

Sadness played in the air around us but I smiled. A broken hearted smile but a warm one.

"Alright."

He nodded and gazed down at my bags again.

"First though, I'd like to have a word with Mr. Saito."

"Why?" He inquired.

"Nothing really."

I walked towards Mr. Saito and he turned his attention to me.

"What is it Fumiko?"

I motioned for him to follow me and we continued walking until I was far enough away from Sora and Mrs. Saito, who were talking when we left.

"Mr. Saito."

"Yes?"

"How do you say I love you?"

He furrowed his brows and I saw the wrinkles on his forehead crinkle with concentration.

"That's a very hard question Fumiko, even for a man of my age."

"I'm sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable."

"No, it's okay." He told me after a long pause. "This is about Sora, isn't it?"

I nodded and stared at my feet.

I felt so embarrassed, talking about this with him but I knew he would give me a better answer than Mrs. Saito would.