But I still can't let go.

Hiroto was sitting on the floors, his eyes blank. He has been staring at the wall for almost ten minutes.

"What are you doing... Hiroto?" His mother asked.

"Oh, Mom..." He mumbled, looking at his mother. He crawled toward her and sat beside her. "Yuna is babysitting a housewife- Wait, that sounds wrong... She's out for work. Why are you awake?"

"I can't sleep..." She mumbled.

"But it's midnight soon." Hiroto said.

"Everytime I was about to sleep... My body would jolt in pain." She said.

"Is that so...? You've already drank Kanae-san's medicine though..." Hiroto frowned.

"... Kochou-san is kind, isn't she...?" His mother asked.

"Yeah, she is." Hiroto smiled.

"Uzui-san too, yes?"

"Yeah. Everyone is kind. Kanae-san, Uzui-san, Himejima-san, uh... the black haired guy who wears a strange haori too. Even Shinazugawa-san is kind." Hiroto grinned. "I wonder how Yuna managed to find people like them."

"... It's said that... good person attracts each other..." She smiled.

"I think so." Hiroto nodded. He was smiling at his mother, knowing that she won't leave him before he's ready. She won't leave before he let her go.

Hiroto clenched his black hakama pants. He took out a deep breath and exhaled, relaxing the furrows on his eyebrows. He raised his head at his mother.

"Mom, do you remember when Yuna came to the house?" Hiroto asked.

"Yeah...?"

"Yuna's mom brought her to our old house about seven years ago or so. We were still very young back then." Hiroto said.

He suddenly remembered that his mother once told him, that when people are in verge of death, they tend to reminisce about their pasts.

"I really hate her back then. I told you, didn't I? I hate her because she's a girl but she's wayyy stronger than me." Hiroto chuckled, keeping a happy tone of voice.

"And I hate her mom too. I hate how she left her daughter to someone else. And I hate how she's a prostitute." Hiroto said.

"Back then, I didn't know what a prostitute is so I asked you. Do you remember? I was still very young but you explained it to me. That's why I thought she's a woman willing to do anything with any man for money." He said.

"I was really disgusted by her." He chuckled.

"But I..."

"Then, why did she do that?" A young Hiroto asked his mother.

"Why did Auntie do something like that? Isn't she ashamed of herself?" Hiroto asked.

"Hiroto." His mother chuckled at him.

"We mothers will do anything for our children. There's nothing shameful in doing something like that as long as it's for our children."

"Really? Why would she do anything for Yuna?" Hiroto asked.

"Because she loves her." His mother smiled as she wrapped her arms around him. "Just like how I love you. Even I would do the same thing if it's for you, Hiroto."

"But I also know..." Hiroto trailed off.

"That Yuna... was born from a really amazing woman." He smiled. "Up until now, I still feel guilty for thinking of them like that. I never get to apologize to her..."

Hiroto's mother smiled lovingly at her son. She raised her hand and took Hiroto's smaller one, as if telling him to keep talking.

".... And then... Uh..." Hiroto puffed his cheeks, looking at the ceiling as his tears welled up. He wrapped his hand around his mother's.

"And then back then... You would watch me and Yuna play together in the courtyard... Yuna's mom too.." Hiroto blinked and his tears fell down.

"Um... Oh... Two years after that Dad lost all his money in a gamble and got into a very big debt. On top of that, he was caught by the authorities for illegal dealings and we've never heard from him ever since that. You're forced to work every day to pay his debt... until you fell sick..."

"No, no, not that one." Hiroto waved his free hand to throw away his bad memories.

"Uh... I..." Hiroto but his lips.

"I really hate myself..." He muttered.

"I want to be a strong man... I hate myself for being weak... I can't help you and ended up making Yuna do all the hard works... I really envy her back then... But in reality, I just hate myself for being weak..."

"But Mom, I... never blame you for it. I've come to accept that I was born this way. This me is what you gave birth to."

"I'll learn to love myself more..."

"And I... want you to be beside me as I try to..."

Hiroto sobbed, wiping his face. His mother watched him, still with a smile even though there were tears on her eyes too.

"Um... I... really love you, Mom..."

"That's why I don't want you to go..."

He choked on his tears.

"But I hate seeing you in pain..."

"But I can't live without you... What should I do?" He sobbed harder, rubbing his eyes.

"Mom, I... I used to think that I have no one except for you in this world... I used to think that if you ever leave this world, then I'll follow you even to hell." He sniffed.

"Hiroto..." She managed to utter.

"Mom, I... I'm sorry..." Hiroto sobbed.

"I can't be... with you..."

"I'm... going to stay... in this world even without you... I'll try to, even though it won't be the same... I'll keep living here with Yuna."

"Everything you've always wanted to see. Me and Yuna growing up happy, bringing home kind in-laws for you, grandchildren... Living easy and healthy... Helping each other side by side..."

"I... can't go to you... before I make it all happen."

Hiroto rubbed his eyes violently.

"So, Mom!" He grinned.

"Please wait for me and Yuna there! You can spend your time talking with Aunt and Uncle as you three wait for us! I'll make your dreams happen together with Yuna!"

"Yeah, together... I still have... I still have Yuna..." Hiroto broke into tears again.

He rubbed his eyes again, frustrated.

"Mom, I realllly love you! You're the person I love the most in this world! You're the best mother!" Hiroto grinned as his tears dropped down to his pants and hands.

"Mom." Hiroto called. He ducked his body to hold his mother's head.

"You can go now." He smiled, despite the endless tears from his eyes.

"Thank you for being born as my mother."

She wanted to say her thanks to him. She wanted to tell him how much she loves him. But sadly, her last breath was taken away from her already.

Hiroto sobbed louder as he felt his mother stiffened.

"Mom..." His voice cracked.

"... Mom... ugh..."

"... Sweet dreams..."

•••

"It's okay, it's okay." Yuna said as she cradled the baby boy in her arms.

"Why does he cry so much?" She asked to Eri with a confused face.

"I don't know." Eri laughed. "Maybe he doesn't want you to leave yet, Yuna-chan. Look at how he grabs your sleeves!"

"But, I'm not even going anywhere." Yuna said as she looked at Akira.

"I'm back!" A cheerful voice echoed from the front door.

"Well, now you are." Eri smiled.

She took Akira away from Yuna, which made the baby cry harder. He was literally yelling at his mother, asking for his older sister back.

"Aww, look at how fond he is of you." Eri cooed.

Kimura popped his head into the room.

"What's wrong? Is Akira sad that Daddy is home?" He teared up.

"Oh, silly. You should stop making Yuna-chan come at late nights! She's a girl!" Eri scolded her husband.

"I don't mind though." Yuna said.

"If Yuna-chan doesn't mind then it's okay!" Eri smiled and Kimura pouted at her.

"Then, I'll take my leave now." Yuna stood up and bowed to Eri. She looked at Akira and waved her hand. "Bye-bye, Akira."

The baby boy cried as he saw Yuna walked away.

"Thank you for today, Yuna-chan! Oh, here's your payment!" Kimura said as he handed Yuna some money.

"Oh... Payment..." Yuna muttered. She always forgot that she came here for her job, not for fun.

"Thank you." She said, taking the money.

"I wish you all a nice dream." She said before leaving the house.

Yuna slipped into her footwear and walked out from the house. She looked up at a tree in front of her and stared at one of the branches, more like, at someone on top of the branch.

"Are you done for the day?"

"... Why are you there?" Yuna asked the white haired young man jumped down.

"I was patrolling a nearby area and ended up here." Sanemi said. "Going home now?"

"Yeah."

"Let's go."

She used to refuse his offer but now, she simply let him walk her home.

"I just remembered when your aunt said that your birthday is coming." Sanemi said.

"Really...? Oh, you're right. I almost forgot." Yuna ruffled her hair.

"Have you ever get any birthday presents?" Sanemi asked.

"Yeah, Hiroto gave presents to me." Yuna said.

"Whoa, he did?"

"Yeah. A handwritten letter... Another handwritten letter... Another letter..." Yuna rubbed her temples. "I'm sure he gave me something but why am I only remembering the letters?"

"Bet the letters told you to stay healthy and such." Sanemi said.

"Of course. It's Hiroto after all." Yuna sighed.

"Oh!" She exclaimed at a sudden. "He's really skilled at handicrafts so he made me a really cute, small doll before. He also made a strap with flower ornaments... Everything was handmade."

"Speaking of which, did you make that hair accessory by yourself?" Yuna asked.

"Who told you that?"

"I remember hearing Uzui-san saying something about it."

"Tch."

Yuna looked at Sanemi.

"Thank you." She said. "I placed it along with Hiroto's presents so I won't lose it."

She was actually preserving his gift. And here he thought she didn't like the gift. Though he prefers her using it rather than keeping it away.

They arrived at Yuna's house and stopped in front of the door.

"Go in." Sanemi said and Yuna nodded.

"Good night." She said as she opened the door.

Her whole body froze when she took a step inside. Aside from the sobbing, there was something unusual about her house.

She used to sense two presences, but why was there only one now?

Sanemi noticed Yuna's demeanor. He heard someone crying from inside the house and his eyes widened. He watched as Yuna slowly made her way inside.

She stood beside her cousin.

Eyes looking down at her aunt's motionless body.

She was sleeping peacefully with a smile.

Hiroto pressed the back of his hand on his eyes. He has been trying to stop his tears for the past few minutes to no avail.

Sanemi walked into the house and stopped behind Yuna. His shocked eyes stared at the lifeless body of Hiroto's mother.

Yuna fumbled backwards and bumped onto Sanemi. She turned around and walked away from the house, gradually increasing her speed.

Sanemi was still standing there, stiff.

"I'm sorry... for your... lost..."

Hearing his words, Hiroto broke down. His body lowered until his head was against the floors. He clenched the clothes around his chest as he cried.

Sanemi turned around. He has to bring Yuna back to the house before any demons find her. He left the house and stopped when he saw her, crouching down on the grounds just a meter away.

She was curled up like a ball, hugging her legs and burying her face on her knees. He could see how her shoulders shook. It was the first time he saw her crying, but she was still holding it in.

Sanemi walked up to her.

He didn't know what to do.

He has never comforted anyone before.

Sanemi raised a hand and placed it on her back. He awkwardly patted her back as she sobbed.

Yuna shoved his hand away.

"Don't comfort me..." She mumbled.

"I'll end up crying harder..."

"... Then cry." Sanemi said.

Yuna clenched her sleeves harder. Another sob escaped from her lips as she finally let out a heartbreaking wail.

Her shoulders shook violently as she cried. Sanemi stood still beside her with his awkward pats. He looked up at the sky and the falling snows.

That day, two children lost their one and only mother figure.

Yuna was beyond frustrated. She was angry at herself.

Why wasn't she there when her aunt passed away?

Why wasn't she there to see her last moments?

Why wasn't she there to bid her aunt good bye?

"I'm sorry..." She sobbed.

"I'm sorry...!"

•••

Hiroto, Yuna, you two are really the two persons I love the most. Thank you for everything you've done for me. Let's be born as a family again, okay? Until then, I'll watch over you.

Yuna, I'm sorry for burdening you.
But please remember your promise.

Even if it hurts, even if you are in pain,
you have no choice but to stand up,
no matter how beaten you are.
Because there is someone you have to protect.

I'm leaving Hiroto to you, Yuna.

See you later.