THOUGH tension lingered, there was a palpable shift in the atmosphere after that. Father and son, their eyes still averted from each other, finally began to navigate a choppy conversation. Under Ayako’s warm and watchful gaze, they talked about family, about his mother and sister, before the topic naturally veered to Towada’s future. With his family set to remain overseas for the near future, he faced the choice of studying abroad or testing for a local school.
“Have you given it any consideration?” Akira asked.
“Somewhat,” Towada replied.
“Good. I can guarantee your tuition so long as you don’t intend on becoming a bum. Do whatever you wish.”
“Sure.”
I sensed the underlying strain in Towada’s voice. Although the playful oaties surrounding his father seemed to preempt any open show of defiance, the sharpness of his response still sent a shiver down my spine.
Suddenly, an exasperated Ayako interjected, “That’s not all you wanted to say, is it, Akira?”
“It is,” he replied.
“No, it’s not,” she asserted. “Takumi, what your father is trying to tell you is that you don’t need to worry about money. Whether you want to go to vet med school or go abroad or whatever, the choice is yours, and he will support you all the way.”
“What?” stuttered Towada
“Why else do you think your father works so hard?”
Ignoring Ayako’s clarification and his son’s startled stare, Akira resumed eating. His silence spoke volumes.
“He wants you to have the freedom to chart your own course—to decide for yourself, unlike the sight you inherited.”
Towada looked like he couldn’t believe what he was hearing. His eyes fixated on his father, searching for validation.
Finally, Akira lifted his head from his food. “You shouldn’t be burdened any further in life,” he mumbled amid his furry entourage before looking away.
Towada blinked, opened his mouth to speak—then closed it again.
“Food’s getting cold, guys.”
At Ayako’s urging, Towada’s focus returned to his meal.
The air in the dining room, while not lively with chatter, was notably less stifling than before.
✦ ✦ ✦
AS the plates emptied and the oaties concluded their fun, wandering off save for the one on my lap, the conversation drifted to what had happened at school and the park.
“Haruka, you’ve seen other ayakashi, not just the ones here?” Ayako’s voice held a touch of disbelief.
“Oh, well, yes,” I stammered, taken aback by her surprise. Noting how she’d grown pale, I glanced at Towada, but he seemed lost in thought.
“Haruka, was it just the park and school? You haven’t noticed any at home, have you?” she pressed.
“No, none at home,” I confirmed.
“I see…” She paused, then turned to Akira and began to speak in a hushed tone.
“Should I not have said that?” I asked Towada, also lowering my voice.
“I don’t think that’s it,” he said.
His father’s expression betrayed no emotion as he and Ayako conversed. Midway, they switched to a foreign language. Is that…French? The intent was clear: they didn’t want us to understand. I could acknowledge the need for discretion, yet the secrecy unnerved me all the same. Their covert discussion lasted for what felt like almost two minutes, ending with Akira’s apparent dismissal of whatever Ayako had proposed.
“Sorry, did I do something wrong?” I asked.
Ayako, still appearing somewhat anxious, furrowed her brow in sympathy. “No, no, not at all. But tell me, when you saw them, did you feel different?”
“I lost my hearing briefly,” I answered.
“Sound, eh?” murmured Akira. “What about you, Takumi?” His hand on his chin, he pinned his son with a pointed glare, one I would have thought twice about returning.
Although severe, his tone wasn’t angry, and Towada was able to glower right back. “I was fine. Same as usual.”
“That so?”
The exchange was short yet heated—I swore I saw sparks fly. The oatie must have sensed it too, seeking to comfort me by nudging my hand. The gesture, though sweet, did little to dispel the unease settling within me.