#6 The Only Choise

Akiko wiped her tears away, taking two suitcases near her feet and using them as support to stand. She felt she had no more strength left. 

With vacant eyes, Akiko walked away from the gate. She didn’t know what to do or how to handle the situation. She didn't understand how Kaede knew what had happened.

Karina shouldn't have spoken again, since she had already received the money she wanted and had her wish to leave Kenji fulfilled. But now it didn’t matter who had informed Kaede; Akiko’s worst fears had come true.

Akiko sighed deeply, trying to hold back her tears as she staggered along. Physically, her body wasn’t in pain, but her heart was bruised and bleeding. She couldn’t even stand up straight.

Akiko walked without looking anywhere, but she stopped when she noticed a familiar car stopping beside her. It's Kenji's car.

Kenji hadn’t left. Kenji had been standing in front of Yuto's house earlier, clearly observing how Kaede had driven Akiko away. He had been following her the whole time.

“Get in!” Kenji commanded, rolling down the car window.

Akiko shook her head. Even though she no longer had a reason to leave Kenji, she still didn’t want to be with the man who had just tried to intimidate her. Her uncle was Kenji, but his recent actions made Akiko feel like she no longer knew him.

“GET IN!” Kenji said it again, this time with a shout.

Akiko still refused. She continued to drag her suitcases down the now-busy street. Some school children in sailor uniforms passed by, staring at her with curiosity. The pitiful sight of a woman in disarray dragging suitcases certainly drew attention.

“Get in! Do you want to be a spectacle for everyone?” Kenji, who was driving very slowly alongside Akiko, hissed once more.

“Yes, I’d rather be a spectacle for everyone than go back with you!” Akiko retorted somewhat harshly, but her voice was choked.

In reality, Akiko desperately wanted a relative she could rely on—at least a place to lean on so she wouldn’t collapse. However, the only family member she possessed had recently caused her pain.

Akiko’s hands gripping the suitcase handles were turning white from the tightness of her grasp. As she remembered what Kenji had done, her fear returned.

“Then what’s your plan? Do you want to sleep on the street? Become homeless? Or are you considering ending your life solely because of that man?" Kenji laid out the harsh reality that Akiko had not considered before.

Akiko’s steps slowed. She might want to run away from Kenji, but she didn’t want to die. She would never give up on life because she had almost lost it once before. Akiko always wanted to live, no matter what. But right now, she knew she had nothing. She knew Kaede wouldn’t include a pile of money in her suitcase.

Kaede had never trusted her to handle the shopping money. Yesterday, Akiko had paid for the taxi fare with her own money, which she had brought to Yuto’s house. So, it was impossible for Kaede to send the discarded daughter-in-law off with money to live on. 

While staying at the Nakamura house, Akiko only cooked with the ingredients Kaede bought. Yuto provided all of her clothing and belongings. She had zero assets, but Akiko had never seen that as a problem.

Akiko might have had desires, but she always restrained them. She constantly reminded herself that what Yuto provided was enough. He never failed to bring her gifts. 

There was no regular schedule; sometimes every week, Yuto would return from work trips with gifts—clothes, perfume, or occasionally jewelry. So, Akiko never felt she needed money—until today. 

She began to realize that Kenji’s words were very accurate. She would truly become a vagrant if she continued to be so stubborn.

Akiko stopped walking, bent over, and swallowed the nausea in her throat. The decision she had made made her feel disgusted. But she had no choice.

“Get in.” Kenji stopped shouting, confident that Akiko would no longer decline. Because Akiko had indeed accepted his offer, her steps halted.

Kenji opened the door, stepped out, and went around to place Akiko's suitcases in the trunk.

Akiko got in and sat down. But as before, she pressed her body as far away from Kenji as possible. 

Her resolve in making this decision was to keep herself as distant from Kenji as possible. For now, Akiko could breathe a little easier. Kenji didn’t say anything; he remained silent throughout the ride. That was the perfect atmosphere, according to Akiko.

***

After placing Akiko's suitcases in the room, Kenji left her. He's still not speaking. There was no smile on his face, nor the usual "Okaeri" (welcome home) he used to say when he returned from school. 

However, all of that was relieving to Akiko, especially after her room door was closed.

Akiko wanted to be alone to calm her thoughts. Obviously, whatever Kenji did wouldn’t bring her peace. At this point, comfort from Kenji would only bring tears and curses. Her uncle was no longer a ‘safe place’ for her.

Akiko sat down, leaning against the wall, hugging her knees, and gripping her arms tightly. She tried to hold back her tears. Memories of Yuto, Kaede, and everything else made Akiko wish her illness hadn’t healed yet. 

At least she might have a chance to forget everything that happened in the last few hours, especially what happened the night before.

Akiko squeezed her arms again, trying to prevent herself from screaming or wailing. She didn’t want to draw Kenji’s attention. 

She wasn’t even sure what she was crying for—whether it was for Yuto, Kaede’s insults, or Kenji’s behavior, which was so different from what she remembered.

Akiko followed him to this house because Kenji was the only family who might accept her. Karin was the other option, but she would never embrace her again.

Akiko was here because this was the place that wouldn’t disgustingly reject her. But that didn’t mean Akiko knew how to behave with Kenji. She wasn’t sure she could quickly erase her fear of Kenji’s presence near her. 

What Kenji did in the bathroom tainted Akiko's memories of him. The kind uncle she had known was no longer the same. Akiko could understand Kenji's anger at her desire to return to Yuto—the Nakamura family—who had treated her unfairly. But Akiko could never accept Kenji’s treatment in the bathroom.