The Life Of Haru

Chapter 1: Troubled Thoughts

"How did things end up like this?" Knock! Knock! A sound is heard coming from outside the front door. "All I ever wanted was to have a simple life, so why did this happen to me!" Knock! Knock! A female voice could be heard coming from the other side of the door. "Haru, It's me Ayumi Are you home? I just wanted to check on you. I haven't seen you at school for the past few weeks..." Haru looks down at the floor sitting in his chair staying quiet. "Well, I guess you're not home so I'll come by tomorrow..." The female voice trails off as Haru hears her steps slowly fade away into silence once again. He looks around his empty house that use to be full of energy and laughter. "I remember when we played together when my life was simple."

Young Haru runs to Ayumi across the playground that was near his neighborhood. "Ayumi look I found something cool!" Ayumi looks back at Haru as he opens his hands and reveals a ladybug. It begins to flutter its wings and fly around the two before flying off. "Haru that was pretty! I wish I could fly like a ladybug." Haru looks at Ayumi and smiles. "Yeah me too." A voice could be heard from the bench from across the street. "Ayumi time to go home!" Shouted from her mom Ayumi got up and dusted off her skirt. "Happy birthday Haru! See you at school." She smiles and runs to her mom and they begin to walk away.

Haru gets up and runs to his dad who is talking to a lady. "Dad can we go see mom!" Haru's dad waves to the woman as she walks away. He picks up his son and puts him on his shoulders. "So you wanna visit your mom today huh? "Haru nods in excitement. "Okay, but only if you're able to tell me how old you turned today." Haru grows a huge smile "I'm now seven years old" Haru's dad laughs as they begin to walk towards his mom's house. Knock! Knock! "Mom! Mommy!" The door opens up as a beautiful young woman with long black hair opens the door. "Hi, Haru! Hello Daichi." Haru smiles and waves "Hello auntie!" Haru hops down and hugs his aunt. "Where's mommy?" She then pats his head and sent him towards the kitchen and pulled Daichi into the living room. They begin to sit on the couch have a little banter. "So Ann how have you been?."

Haru runs into the kitchen and hugs his mom. "Mommy I missed you!" She stops stirring the pot on the stove and hugs her son. "I missed you too. How was your birthday?" Haru ecstatically told her "It was awesome! I got to play with Ayumi and I found a ladybug and flew all around mom. It was pretty." She chuckles and smiles. "Okay go ahead and was up it's almost time for dinner." Haru nods and goes to get ready for dinner. Haru's mother peeks her head around the corner and sees her sister hugging Daichi's arm and chuckling. Haru's mom then turns around making a grunting noise and then shakes her head and continues cooking. "I'm probably just over-thinking as always." "Daichi~" Ann whispers into his ear. "I wonder if you missed me?" She teases Daichi by running her hand across his chest and then slowly gets up and walks away to the kitchen.

Ann walks in "Oneesan (older sister) do you need help?" Haru's mother nods. "Can you make the table?" Ann replies. "No problem." "Hinata!" Haru's mother looks towards the living room hearing her name called. "Can you come here." She then finishes cooking and pulls out the cake and turns the stove off. "Yes, dear?" She says as she walks into the living room. Daichi then takes a bunch of party hats out of his bag and gives two of them to her. "Here take these turn the lights off, and then light the candle on the cake." She nods and then gives her sister a hat just as she finishes setting up the table. She then lights the candle and turns the lights off and get into position as they hear footsteps coming downstairs. Haru jumps down the stairs and runs to the kitchen but stops. "Mom I'm done!" All of sudden his mom, auntie, and his dad come out singing happy birthday.

Haru begins to tears up and hugs his family. "I love mama, papa, and auntie!" They share cake and ann heads to bed in the guest room. Daichi carried and tucked him in and went to go lay down in his room next to his wife Hinata and gave her a kisses her on the cheek. He then lays on his back and stares at the roof as a thought of Ann comes into his head. He then grumbles and covers his face with his arm. Hinata turns over and looks at him with a regretful look upon her face and begins to say something then hesitates. Daichi looks at her as she closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. Daichi rolls over and holds her close, and then kisses her forehead. "I love you. Never forget that." She nods and they go to sleep. As Hinata goes to sleep a year falls down her cheek.

Haru looks at an old dusty and slightly burned picture of his family in a picture frame with glass below it as a tear falls down his face. "Life was so damn simple back then."