Bada put her hair in a ponytail. It had been 4 months since Haru officially walked away from their potential relationship. She’d started growing out her hair, just to give herself something to do. She just wanted to take her mind off Haru.

“Gooo...aaaaa” made bubbles and grabbed her finger.

“You are just the cutest baby,” she picked him and snuggled him.

“I wanted to have a cute baby just like you. But that didn’t workout,” Bada said and blew more bubbles. She imagined what her baby with Haru would have looked like. That was a distant memory now.

“Just a minute!” Bada screamed at whoever was knocking at the door. She laid down gently in the bed of pillows she’d made for him. He made more cute baby sounds as she walked over to the door. She kept looking back at him.

“Yes,” she opened the door. It was Haru, he didn’t say anything he just looked at her.

“Come in. I was just packing up his things,” Bada step from in front the door and he walked in. He noticed the two bags by the door.

“How much more did his mom send with him. It’s only one night. He’s not moving in,” Haru pointed to the bags at the door.

“Those are my bags,” Bada smiled as she picked up.

“Where are you going?” He asked. The question caught her off guard. She didn’t expect to have to answer to him. She had already told everyone else.

Elizabeth and Lina tried talking her out of leaving but her mind was made up. She couldn’t bare having to see Haru all the time. The thought of having to see him marry someone else and had a happy family was heartbreaking to her.

“You can hold him while I put his stuff in the bag and get his bottles,” Bada didn’t answer him. She just put in his arms.

“You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to.” Haru sat down on the sofa with in his arms. He was blowing little bubbles and smiling. Haru smiled at him.

“Do you love me?” Haru asked and Bada froze for a moment.

“Do you love me because I love you,” Haru looked at. Bada took a deep breath out and then in. He was talking to the baby.

“Here you go, he’s all set to go. Auntie Bada is going to missed you so much,” she leaned down and kissed on the forehead.

“You don’t have to go,” Haru whispered so only they could hear.

“I can’t stay, I couldn’t bare it,” she looked away from him. She didn’t want to cry in front of him. She would keep her tears to herself.

“Okay,” Haru said taking the bag away from her.

He walked out of the door and out to the car. He little in his car seat and closed the door. He knew he didn’t have the right to ask her to stay but he didn’t want her to go.

Yamada home (joint Fuji and Yamada Estate)

“Hi uncle Haru,” chisai ran out and hugged him. Haru lifted so he wouldn’t be crushed by chisai’s hug.

“Hi chisai, are you ready to go?” Haru asked as Elizabeth walked down stairs with a backpack.

She was four months pregnant with their second child. Yoshio and her decided they didn’t want to know what they were having. They wanted it to be a surprise.

“Here’s your bag. Be good for uncle Haru,” Elizabeth gave Yoshio his bag and kissed him on the top of the head.

“I will Mommy,” Yoshio ran to the front door.

“Thanks for doing this, I really appreciate it,” Elizabeth thank him for watching Yoshio.

“You don’t have to thank me. I love spending time with them. I’ll see you on Monday afternoon,” Haru said and turned and walked over to the door near Yoshio.

“Uncle can I sit next to you in the front?” Yoshio asked as they walked over to the front door.

“Sure, but just this once okay,” Haru said and Yoshio bounced up and down with excitement all the way to the car.

Saturday

Haru’s House ( joint Fuji and Yamada Estate)

Sanosuke was crying loudly. Both Haru and chisai were trying to comfort him but nothing was working. Then the doorbell rang.

“I’ll get the door uncle!” Yoshio yelled over the crying and ran to the door.

Haru looked into the crib; had been crying so had that is little face was all red and there were no tears coming from his eyes. He was clean, feed, and didn’t have a temperature. Haru didn’t know what else to do.

“Uncle! Auntie Bada is here, she can help,” Yoshio walked into the room holding Bada’s hand.

“I don’t know what’s wrong with him. I was going to call the doctor,” Haru said. She could see the concern in his eyes.

“You don’t need to do that. He just has colic.” Bada said calmly.

“What do I do?” Haru asked.

“Sit down in the chair,” Bada pointed as she picked up from his crib.

“Just hold him on your chest and rub his back gently. My mom says that helps them feel better. I think is something about our breathing that helps. He got colic all the time when I would take care of him,” she rested Sanosuke gently on Haru’s chest. She took one of his hands and laid it gently on Sanosuke’s back. Bada ignored her pounding heart as she held his hand. She got lost in thought, her hand resting on his. His chest rising up and down; he looked so cute as a dad.

“That’s it,” Haru said rubbing back gently. Bada jumped back and pulled her hand off his. Sanosuke sniffled and stopped crying.

“Auntie Bada is magical,” Yoshio praised her as the crying stopped.

“I’m not magical. Anyways I just want to give these to you,” she held her apartment keys out to him. She had tried to give it to the landlord who informed that Haru had bought the entire building to stop her from being evicted.

How could he care for her so much and at the same time not care at all.

“You can keep it Incase you want to come back,” Haru offered. He didn’t want her to leave and he didn’t know how to make her stay.

“I’m not coming back,” she put the keys down on the little table next to the chair. She kissed chisai in the forehead. Bada heads for the door and rest her hand on the doorknob.

‘I’m going to miss you so much. I love you so much Haru,’ she opened the door and left. She could feel the tears starting to roll down her face.

The five hour plane ride was enough to prepare Bada for all her mom’s question.

‘Bada if you have a hard time in the big city come home. I’ll take care of you,’ She could still here her mom’s voice in her head. Bada’s mom had said those words to her when she dropped her off at the airport.

What was she going to tell her mom, the truth would be terrifying.

City R

National airport

“Bada!” Her mom screamed and ran to meet her.

“Mommy!” Bada ran and hugged her mom. It felt so good to get a hug from her mom, that she broke down in tears. All the feelings and the emotions she was feeling hit her all at once. She couldn’t stop the tears from falling.

“Honey what’s wrong?” Bada’s mom held her close and tried to find out what was wrong.

“I’m happy to see you that’s all,” Bada lied to her mom. She was happy to be home and she felt safe at home.

“You’re not telling me the truth, but you’ll tell me when your ready,” Her mom kissed her forehead. Bada just nodded her head, how did her mom always know when she was not telling the truth.

“Come on, I left your father home alone cooking dinner,” Her mom said with a smile.

“Daddy can’t cook,” Bada said with bloodshot eyes.

“I know he wanted to make a welcome back dinner,” Her mom said as they walked out to the car. The drove home was quiet, the little town still looked the same as when she left nearly three years ago. Bada was sure she could walk it blindfolded. They turned down her street and her heart started the pound with excitement. She was home and she could start forgetting Haru.

Episode three: you didn’t think it was going to...

Haru’s house

Sanosuke was fast asleep; Haru and Yoshio were playing video games.

“I win again!” Yoshio exclaimed in victory.

“Shhh we don’t want to wake Sanosuke,” Haru looked over at the crib, Sanosuke moved a little bit but didn’t wake up.

“Sorry,” Yoshio covered his mouth and apologized.

“It’s okay,” Haru said as his phone rang. A few messages from Assistant Toma came through.

“Alright time for bed,” Haru said picking up Yoshio.

“What have you been eating. You’re so heavy?” Haru said bouncing Yoshio up and down.

“Nothing, I’m not a baby anymore,” Yoshio giggled.

“So does that mean you can get yourself ready for bed?” Haru looked at Yoshio.

“Yes, am I big boy,” Yoshio smiled and Haru put him down.

“Alright,” Haru picked up a sleeping Sanosuke and took him up to the bedroom. He laid him in his crib and went to check on Yoshio.

Yoshio was standing on a tip toe looking at himself in the mirror. He had toothpaste all over his mouth.

“Arrr I’m a silly monster, arrr,” Yoshio made faces in the mirror.

“Almost done,” Haru stood behind him.

“Yes, uncle Haru,” Yoshio turned around with a huge smile on his face. Yoshio washes his mouth and Haru put him to bed.

Haru went to his study and sat in front of his computer. He put the baby monitor next to computer.

He opens the files that Assistant Toma sent him. It was images of the lab being broken into and there was also a list of the medications which was taken.

“What the hell are you up to, Hisa?” Haru asked himself as he looked at the documents. Haru took out his phone to message Assistant Toma. The image on the lock screen was a picture of Bada from when they went to the amusement park. He ran his finger over the image.

“Why can’t I...” Haru closed his eyes and unlocked his phone. He had to delete that picture but he couldn’t, he couldn’t get over her. He couldn’t move on, he was trapped in the feelings he didn’t understand.

“Assistant Toma...”

City R

Bada’s Home

Bada ran into the house to find her dad setting the table. The house smelled just like she remembered, the smell of food cooking on the stove. The scent of cinnamon and apples faint in the background. She was home; Bada smiled to her self as she rushed into her fathers arms.

“Daddy!” She yelled and he embraced her.

“I’ve missed you so much, I made dinner for you?” He pointed to the table.

“Thanks daddy,” she kissed her father on the cheek and put her bag down.

The following morning Bada woke up in her room surrounded by all her things. Her phone began to ping with messages.

She unlocked her phone to check the messages and she’d forgotten all about that. Haru was the background image on her phone. It was a picture of him at his desk, she’d taken it while she was waiting for him to finish for the day. He was so serious all the time, she wished he would have smiled in the picture. He has such a beautiful smile.

‘What am I thinking,’ she thought shaking her head.

\~Bada you came back into town and I had to find out from the gossipy girl at the airport. Call me\~ Isa

Bada smiled Isa has been her best friend since childhood. When Bada left city R three years ago, the continued contact through messages and phone calls. Bada was just nervous and scared about what to tell her friend.

“Isa,” Bada said when the phone picked up.

“Bada my best friend. I’m angry with you,” Bada could hear Isa pouting on the other end of the phone.

“I’m sorry, how can I make it up to you?” Bada said resting on the big fluffy pillow on her bed.

“Meet me for lunch so we can catch up. Please,” Isa begged.

“Okay,” Bada agreed reluctantly, she would have much rather to be at home crying her eyes out. Maybe this was a better alternative, a meal with an old dear friend; might help her move on.