Chapter Text
Eijun didn't mean it. He didn't mean to eavesdrop.
He wished he didn't hear anything.
This month, the atmosphere in the house is bleak. There was something different, he knew it was not a simple problem. The loud house suddenly became silent and talks became formal- almost as if talking only if needed. He tried to brighten up his home by sharing his day to day activities with friends but it was of no use.
Today, there was a guest. When he heard his father's car, he instantly ran to the door to welcome him, strangely though there was a woman behind him. Although it was rude, he stared at her. Curious as to why this woman is in his home. He suddenly remembered his grades.
'Ah, perhaps this person is a tutor. I did flunk my tests.'
A chill run down his spine thinking about the woman who may be his tutor and shorten his playing time.
'I better introduce myself, it's not good if she had a bad impression on me for being rude.'
"Hello, I'm Sawamura Eijun. May I ask what is the purpose of your visit today?"
Another chill run down on his spine, the woman smiled at him, but Eijun felt that it was sickeningly sweet.
"Eijun, who-"
His grandfather froze.
"Grandpa, looks like we have a guest today." He informed.
'Is the state of the house currently too unfit to welcome a guest that you froze?'
"Eijun, go to your room and don't come out until you are told to do so. Adults need to discuss something." His father told him.
"...okay." he hesitantly replied. He looked at his grandfather who is currently wearing a not so nice expression and reluctantly went to his room.
Curiosity kills a cat they say but in Eijun's case it killed his heart.
He was sitting in a red swivel chair continuously spinning around. He felt bored and had nothing to do.
'I'll go grab a snack, a quick trip to the kitchen won't be bad.'
Eijun went down the stairs as quiet as possible. Just as he was about to pass the door to the living room, he heard sniffles undoubtedly coming from his mother.
'Why is she crying?' He thought
Unable to ignore his crying mother, he cancelled his trip to the kitchen and opened the door for a little peek.
His grandfather was clutching his chest, his mother is crying, his father is kneeling and the unknown woman was just sitting.
Did his father lose a bet or something?
Maybe the woman is not a tutor but a debt collector. Why else would he be kneeling?
"I know I am in the wrong but I will still ask for a divorce."
'Divorce? His father is asking for divorce? Why? Why? Why?!'
Eijun may not be the brightest tool in the shed sometimes but he knows the weight of the word. How many classmates of his had cried talking about their parent's separation during class counseling? Looking at the tears they shed made him cry and sympathize with them.
He knows the atmosphere of the house has went downhill this month but-
'Don't you think you are giving up so easily?'
"I am cheating." Eijun froze.
"There's someone who owns my heart and needs me."
'Someone he loves? What about my mother?'
"You love her?" His mother slowly uttered looking at her husband, disbelief spread on her face. Eijun can't look at his mother, the scene was too heartbreaking.
Things started to make sense in Eijun's mind, from what is happening to who that woman is. He started to remember memories from his childhood.
"Eh?! Shotgun marriage in the Sawamuras? That child?"
"Shhh! Tone down your voice little Eijun might hear."
"Grandpa, what's a sho-shogun marriage?"
"I won't answer that for now but when you get older you'll know."
Eijun suddenly felt weak, all those memories and emotions is overloading him. He felt sweaty, his breathing became deep and fast, his vision became blurred and in his last attempt to gain balance he leaned his body to the door. He heard a loud bang and felt the cold floor, he can see his family rush to him saying words that seemed to ring in his ears until everything became pitch black.
Eijun opened his eyes, his gaze went to his surroundings. Everything is familiar, he is inside his bedroom. It didn't take long for him to register why he is in there.
'I must have fainted'
He looked at the clock and realized he woke up in the middle of the night. His thoughts wandered around the events today and what would happen to the future but pushed it to the back of his mind- he didn't want to cry.
'I need a distraction.' He thought
He saw his baseball glove, it tempted him to go out and practice pitching but it would be noisy. People are sleeping and the sound of the ball or his rustling might wake them.
Maybe not tonight
His brown eyes went to his notebooks of unfinished home works. Yep, maybe he should do that.
Thirty minutes in and he was about to fall asleep- scratch that. He was feeling sleepy this entire time, he only managed to stay awake because he was reading about the historical generals of Japan. Now that he was doing Maths especially fractions his body could no longer keep up so he fell asleep on the table.
Weeks passed by and the family hasn't talked about that yet, Eijun continued on with his day to day activities but has been avoiding his father. His mother on the other hand just smiles at him and gave him a bento every day.
Sawamura Eitoku, decided that it’s time to tell Eijun the final decision and what would happen in the future so he called for a family meeting today.
The family sat around the table in the living room in silence, to get everyone's attention Eitoku coughed.
He explained to Eijun everything. That the woman that day was his father's mistress- someone he genuinely loves. His parents decided that it was better to separate. After all, the mistress is pregnant and can't afford to raise the baby alone.
Eitoku saw Eijun's face contort, this part of the news was probably new to him. He felt that it is unfair for his grandson, the boy loved his family so dearly after all. He partly blames himself ‘You could have raised him to be a better man.’- whispers his mind. But damaged has been done and the best thing to do is to keep moving forward. Eijun is already growing older and independent day by day so he would probably understand with time why he agreed to the divorce. His parents married for his sake but there was no love. It was time to let go.
After the discussion Eitoku felt sorry for his grandson who listened, did not speak and went up to his room crying.